Stock No. : 1224

James Paterson
Edinburgh, 1803
Gold & gilt repousse pair cases
Verge movement

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A large gold verge, in fine condition throughout, in a beautiful, and very unusual, silver gilt repousse case.

MOVEMENT : Gilt verge movement, with finely engraved balance cock (mask and central star) and plate, large silver regulator disk and blued screws. Signed ‘James Paterson, EDINBURGH’ and marked ‘No. 1’. Four round pillars.

All in particularly fine, almost mint, original condition and running well.

DIAL : Beautiful white enamel in very good condition. Just a couple of flakes around the centre aperture, a flake on the edge at 12 and tiny chips on the edge at 3 and 4. Matching gilt hands.

INNER CASE : 22ct. gold, with marks for London, 1803, maker IW. There are three very small bruises to the back, but these are very minor. The stem is silver gilt, and is original (not a replacement). The hinge is fine and the bezel snaps shut nicely. The crystal is perfect.

OUTER CASE : A wonderful silver gilt pair case, with beautiful high relief repousse work showing a fairy in flight, with stars to the band and scrolls on the bezel.

This is a heavy and substantial case, all in excellent condition, with no repairs, and just a little wear to the gilding on the high points, with the silver showing through. The hinge, catch and catch button are fine and the bezel snaps shut perfectly.

The scene on this case is very unusual, as is the date (very late for a repousse). It is also very rare to find a repousse case with any hallmarks, especially matching the inner case.

James Paterson was apprenticed to James Howden of Edinburgh in 1789. He set up his own business in the Lawnmarket in 1804 (until 1825). So perhaps this watch (No. 1) was the first produced under his own name as he left the apprenticeship.