A London verge, in particularly fine condition, from a very good maker.

MOVEMENT : Gilt verge movement, with engraved and pierced balance cock, blued screws, four round pillars, and silver regulator disk. Signed (Chas. Haley, London) and numbered (1268). The serial number is also engraved on the underside of the balance cock foot. In excellent condition and running well.

DIAL : White enamel dial in fine condition, with just a few very light surface scratches and a short, very light hairline from the edge at 9. Fine original 18th century blued steel beetle and poker hands.

INNER CASE : Silver, with London hallmarks for 1783, maker’s mark IL and engraved with the movement serial number (1268). In very good condition. The hinge is fine and the bezel snaps shut nicely. The high dome crystal is fine.

OUTER CASE : Silver pair case with matching hallmarks and serial number to the inner. In excellent condition throughout. The catch and hinge are fine and the bezel snaps shut correctly, though there is a little wear to the catch button.

Charles Haley, Wigmore Street, was active from 1762 (when he was apprenticed to Brockbank), free of the Clockmakers Company in 1781, and died in 1823. He became a famous London watchmaker and innovator. He invented a constant force escapement, and was known to have produced many fine watches with various escapements (patentee of a remontoire escapement for marine chronometers). He was also one of the experts appointed by the select committee of the House of Commons to report on Mudge’s chronometers.