Mid 18thc. London verge in triple cases

A good quality mid 18thc. London verge, in silver and leather triple cases.

MOVEMENT : Gilt fusee movement, with verge escapement, engraved and pierced balance cock, four very unusual ornate pillars and silver regulator disk.

Signed Rt. & P. Higgs and numbered 3845.

Running well and in good condition.

The movement is protected by a removable gilt dustcap, signed and numbered as the movement.

DIAL : A signed white enamel dial, in good condition, with just some light scratches, and a deeper scratch from the signature across towards III.

Good original 18th century steel beetle and poker hands.

INNER CASE : Silver, with hallmarks for London, 1765, maker’s mark TL under a star (stamped three times) and movement serial number 3845.

All in very good condition though it is missing a sliding shutter which would have covered the winding aperture. The bezel snaps shut correctly.

The high dome crystal his good.

MIDDLE CASE : A silver pair case, with hallmarks and maker’s mark matching the inner.

The silver is in good condition. The hinge and catch are fine and the case snaps shut. The catch button has been filled with an orange hard resin material.

OUTER CASE : Silver with a dark green leather covering, and pique work to the back.

The silver is in good condition and the hinge, catch and catch button are fine. The bezel snaps shut.

The leather covering is complete on the back, and with two sections missing from the bezel (at 12, and a shorter section at 3). The pins of the pique work are nearly all present with just a few missing from the centre of the back.

Robert and Peter Higgs are listed at Sweetings Alley (London) in 1770. Some of their watches are signed ‘Robert & Peter Higgs & Jas. Evans’.

The case maker is Thomas Layton on Dean Street, London.