Gold & Underpainted Horn London Verge

A verge watch, in gold and beautifully underpainted horn pair cases.

MOVEMENT : A gilt verge movement, with a particularly well engraved and pierced balance cock, with birds, scrolls and a mask to the neck. Four square pillars, silver regulator disk and blued steel screws.

Running well, and in good condition, though with one of the pillar tops broken off (next to the signature).

Signed JAMES IENKINS, LONDON.

DIAL : A fine white enamel dial, in good condition. Just some surface scratches, and a small chip, at the catch at 6.

Gold beetle and poker hands, the minute a little worn at the end.

The dial is a little later than the movement, probably fitted in the mid 18thc.

INNER CASE : 22ct. gold with hallmarks for London, 1723 (rubbed) and maker’s mark IP under a star.

In good condition. The hinge is fine and the bezel snaps shut correctly. The high dome crystal is fine.

OUTER CASE : A wonderful gilt brass pair case with underpainted horn covering. The bezel and back are both decorated with a seaweed pattern, with a framed scene on the back showing flowers in a vase. Beautifully painted, with a lot of detail and gold highlights.

The hinge, catch and catch button are complete and the case snaps shut.

The horn is in very good condition, with fine colours.

On the back there are three cracks, a short one from the edge at 12, another short one from 2 and a slightly longer one from 6. There are just 2 pins missing from the pique work.

On the bezel, there is one thin piece of the horn missing along the bezel at 2, and just 3 pins missing.

Like the dial, this case is later than the inner case and movement, but is a perfect fit and probably made during the later 18thc. for this watch.