Early Ipswich Pocket Watch

An early verge in silver pair cases, with a fine mock pendulum movement.

MOVEMENT : Gilt verge movement, with a large engraved and pierced winged balance cock, the aperture exposing the mock pendulum. Four very fine crested tulip pillars.

Signed Fr. Colman.

In very good condition and running well.

DIAL : Silver champleve dial, with signed central disk. In good condition.

Fine blued steel beetle and poker hands.

The dial plate shows extra holes next to the dial feet, so this dial is probably a replacement.

INNER CASE : A silver case, with maker’s mark IP? and numbered 99 (or 66?).

In reasonable condition throughout. The bow and stem are fine though the bow is a replacement.
There was originally a sliding shutter over the winding aperture on the back, but this is now absent.  The aperture is slightly out of line with the winding arbor of the movement, so the case may also be a replacement.

The high dome crystal is also good. The bezel does close by does not snap shut tightly.

OUTER CASE : A silver pair case, with maker’s mark RB? and numbered 987.

In very good condition throughout. The hinge, catch button and catch are fine and the case closes correctly.

Francis Colman is listed in Ipswich, from his marriage in 1668 until his death, possibly in 1709. His son, also Francis, a goldsmith in Ipswich, was born in 1667 and died in 1738.
The style of this movement indicates a date of around 1700.