London Verge with Polychrome Dial

A mid 18th century English verge watch, in silver pair cases, with a nice painted dial.

MOVEMENT : Gilt fusee movement, with verge escapement, engraved and pierced balance cock and plate, blued screws, and four square baluster pillars. Silver regulator disk.

Running well, and in good condition.

Signed “Joe Downes, London” and numbered (2233).

DIAL : A fine white painted enamel dial, showing a pastoral scene with a fisherman and house on the shore of a lake. In very good condition with just a few surface scratches.

Blued steel beetle and poker hands (reproductions)

INNER CASE : Silver, with hallmarks for London, 1771, maker’s mark HB? (rubbed).

In quite good condition. The hinge is fine and the bezel snaps shut correctly. The high dome crystal is good. The bow and stem are fine, though the stem has been reattached with solder showing through to the outside of the case. Otherwise good.

OUTER CASE : Silver pair case.

Reasonable condition but the silver marks are totally obscured by an old repair where a metal plate has been added to the inner back to strengthen the case. This shows though to the centre of the back on the outside. The hinge, catch button and catch are complete and the case snaps shut nicely.

There is a Joe Downes listed in London in 1793.