Edinburgh repousse gold verge

A mid 18thc. Scottish pocket watch, in gold repousse pair cases.

MOVEMENT : Gilded verge escapement, with engraved and pierced balance cock showing a dolphin at the neck and lace edging. Diamond endstone. Four square pillars, silver regulator disk and polished steel screws.

Signed J. Dalgleish, EDINBURGH and numbered 804.

The movement is in good condition, and is running well.

The lace edge decoration to the balance cock was a popular form of decoration for English makers, but only used for a short period between about 1750 and 1770.
DIAL : Fine white enamel dial.
In excellent condition, with just some a few small surface scratches.

Gold beetle and poker hands (the minute probably a replacement).

INNER CASE : 22ct gold, with London hallmarks for 1759, and maker’s mark J?S.S.

In good condition but with some light bruises and the usual compression and scratches around the band. Scratches and some wear around the catch

Original bow and stem. The stem is missing some of the decoration to the top.

The hinge is fine and the bezel snaps shut nicely. The high dome bull’s eye crystal is good with no chips and just a couple of scratches..

OUTER CASE : A gold repousse pair case, decorated with a Classical scene showing four figures.

In good condition, with just some light wear to the high points, mainly to the two central figures. The catch and hinge are fine and the bezel snaps shut correctly. The catch button has a small dent and is probably a replacement. There are no holes in the gold, though it appears that some gold has been added to the heads of the two main figures from the inside. This would have been done to strengthen these high points of the repousse work.

The gold cases have a combined weight of about 60 gms.

John Dalgleish of Edinburgh was free of the Clockmaker’s Company in 1742, married in 1742 and died before 1771.

The case maker is probably John Stubbs & Son of London.