Dutch & English No. 695 silver pair cased repoussé verge watch
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
1774
This antique silver pair-cased verge pocket watch features an inner silver case hallmarked for London, 1774, alongside an outer repoussé case decorated with scrollwork and borders.
The silver champlevé dial displays Roman numerals with gilded half-hour rosettes, an arcaded Arabic outer minute track, a date aperture, and a central banner inscribed with the name Shearwood. Inside, the gilded full-plate movement is powered by a fusee and chain, incorporating a verge escapement, a pierced and engraved Continental-style balance bridge, square baluster pillars, and is numbered 695.
Evidence at a glance
- Linked sources
- 1
- Photograph views
- 1
- Catalogue references
- 0
Counts describe this entry’s documentation, not authenticity, rarity or completeness. Photographs may show one specimen; check each caption and licence.
Technical characteristics
- Dial
- Silver champlevé with date aperture
- Type
- Pair cased verge watch
- Escapement
- Verge escapement
- Place recorded
- United Kingdom
- Movement Details
- Gilded full plate with fusee and chain and square baluster pillars
- Inner Case Diameter
- 43 mm
- Maker / attribution
- Shearwood (signature)
- Outer Case Diameter
- 50.5 mm
Design
- Dial and Hands
- The watch is fitted with a silver champlevé dial featuring Roman numerals with gilded half-hour rosettes set between them. The outer perimeter displays an arcaded Arabic track for minutes, alongside a dedicated aperture for the date display. Gilded pierced hands are positioned above a central banner bearing the signature 'Shearwood'. Direct observation also shows relief scrollwork flanking the banner across the dial center.
- Visible features
- • Silver champlevé dial features Roman hour numerals and prominent arcaded Arabic five-minute numerals. • Gilded pierced hands are positioned over a central banner bearing the text 'SHEARWOOD'. • Gilded rosettes are set into the dial plate between the Roman hour numerals. • The repoussé outer bezel and case band exhibit relief scroll and foliage motifs.
- Dual Case Construction
- The timepiece employs a silver pair case measuring 43 mm across the inner case and 50.5 mm across the outer case. The catalog description details a plain inner case with a winding aperture, a rear cover bearing a later naively engraved crest dated 1790, and an interior hallmarked for London, 1774, alongside a maker's mark noted as possibly Samuel Priest of Southern Payne. The outer repoussé case is cataloged as depicting Father Time crowning a seated figure, framed by scroll and shell-work borders and bezel. Visual inspection confirms relief scroll and foliage motifs across the visible outer bezel and band.
- Reported Movement and Origin
- According to the auction catalog, the watch contains a gilded full-plate movement powered by a fusee and chain, fitted with square baluster pillars, a plain three-arm balance, a Continental pierced and engraved balance bridge, and a verge escapement. The movement plate is reported to bear the signature 'Shearwood, London, no. 695'. The auction listing heads the piece as 'English/Dutch', leaving ambiguous whether the watch represents London production for export, Dutch manufacture, or a Continental watch bearing a spurious English signature.
Identification
- Serial number
- 695
- Source note
- Facts transcribed from the linked source listing or collection record. Attribution and specifications are source-reported and have not been independently authenticated.
Catalogue references
No catalogue numbers recorded. Numbers are only published once transcribed from a verified edition of a standard catalogue — they are never inferred.
Research required
- Research required: The movement and rear repoussé relief scene are not visible in the provided image.
- Research required: The source notes the movement only bears the signature 'Shearwood, London' rather than definitively confirming manufacture.