17thc. London Sun & Moon Dial Pocket Watch

A late 17th century London verge, with a ‘wandering hour’, sun & moon dial, in a fine but later silver case.

MOVEMENT : Gilt verge movement, with pierced balance cock and plate, four wide pierced tulip pillars and a large silver regulator disk.

Signed John Ebsworth, London.

In very good condition, and running well.

DIAL : A silver champleve ‘wandering hour’ or retrograde dial, with central revolving disk, marking the daytime hour with the sun (with some silver clouds), and the nighttime with the moon (with some silver stars). The area under the cutout is nicely engraved with two birds and a mask between.

There are a few patches of rust to the blue background of the disk, but the silver and gold of the moon, stars and sun are set into the steel dial so are untarnished.

Excellent gilt minute hand, of the period, and probably original.

CASE : Silver, with maker’s mark. J. SOMER JS. Finely engraved to the back, both internal bezels and front bezel.

Very good condition throughout. The hinges and catches are fine and the bezels closes correctly. The high dome crystal is fine.

This case was probably made in about 1800. It is a perfect fit with no signs of modifications so was certainly made specially for this watch.

John Ebsworth was apprenticed in 1657 to Richard Ames and made a Freeman of The Clockmakers’ Company in1665. He was Master of the Company in 1697. He died in 1699.
A clock by John Ebsworth is in the Royal Collection.