Early London clockwatch

A late 17thc. London clockwatch with verge escapement in later brass pair cases, and later enamel dial. By a good London maker. To be restored.

MOVEMENT : Gilt verge movement, with engraved and pierced balance cock and plate. Strike count wheel mounted on the top plate. Two round baluster and three very ornate pillars.

Signed Markwick, London.

In reasonably complete condition, though it does need careful restoration. Please check the photos for faults, but I have noted the following :

Scratches to the top plate at the signature (though fortunately still readable),
Minor repairs to balance cock foot (solder visible).
Repair to silver strike count wheel (clumsy solder repair).
Steel gate which should control the turning of the count wheel is absent.
The cannon pinion, hour and minute wheels are all present under the dial but I’m not sure which parts of the strike mechanism is missing.
The fusee and chain are complete but no tension on the chain so the mainspring may be broken or disengaged.

The balance swings freely.
The hammer can be made to strike if the strike movement is wound.

DIAL : Later, mid 18thc. enamel dial in very good condition with just a few light scratches and a small flake at the catch.

No hands.

INNER CASE : Gilt brass, again a replacement, probably mid 18thc. The bell is undamaged.

In reasonable condition, though the stem has been reattached at the neck. The bezel snaps shut correctly but one of the hinge sleeves has broken (though is present). The high dome bull’s eye crystal is fine.

OUTER CASE : Gilt brass, a pair to the inner.

In quite good condition though the catch and catch button are absent. Even wear throughout to the gilding.

The maker of this watch is probably James Markwick, who was apprenticed in 1656, free of the Clockmakers Company in 1673 and died in about 1716. His son, also James Markwick, was also a clock and watchmaker.