A wonderful late 17th century or very early 18th century London clockwatch movement in a later purpose made gilded brass case.

MOVEMENT : Beautiful quality, signed (Jno. Pepys, LONDON) verge clockwatch movement. Numbered (2283). Finely engraved balance cock, strike barrel and plates. Baluster shaped pillars. All in very good original condition and running well.

Two winding arbors. One through the balance cock which winds the fusee, and the other winds the strike barrel.

On the passing hour the hammer correctly strikes the bell (inner case) for each hour. The stem can be pressed at any time to restrike the last hour.

DIAL : Later white enamel dial, in very good condition with just a tiny chip on the edge at 12, another at the catch at 6 and a short scratch around the centre aperture. Blued steel beetle and poker hands in fine condition, though the minute is a later replacement.

CASE : Very heavy gilded brass in excellent condition. The hinges, catch and crystal are fine and both covers close correctly.

The dial and case are both early 19th century so were probably fitted to the movement at the same time. The movement is a perfect fit for the case, so the case was probably made specially for the movement. The bell is possibly original.

John Pepys was apprenticed to John Harris in 1672, is recorded in the Clockmakers’ Company in 1680 and was Master in 1707. He died in about 1720.