English Silver Pair-Cased Verge Pocket Watch
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
Late 17th century
This English verge pocket watch, dating from the late 17th century, is housed in silver pair cases. The movement is a deep full-plate construction featuring fire-gilt finishing and Egyptian-style pillars with top galleries.
Power is transmitted through a fusee and chain mechanism. The balance cock is intricately pierced and engraved with vestigial wings, accompanying a simple three-arm steel balance and a silver regulator disc. The silver champlevé dial features Roman and Arabic numerals, a gilded and engraved outer rim, and blue steel Beetle and Poker hands. The pair case assembly includes an inner case with a split bezel and an outer case fitted with a five-hinged square hinge, a silver pendant, and a stirrup bow.
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
- Type
- Verge pocket watch
- Period
- Late 17th century
- Dial type
- Silver Champlevé
- Regulator
- Silver disc
- Pillar type
- Egyptian
- Mechanism type
- Verge escapement
- Place recorded
- England
- Maker / attribution
- II
- Outer case features
- Five-hinged square hinge
- Movement construction
- Full-plate with fire gilt
Design
- Dial and Hands
- The dial is executed in the champlevé technique on a silver base. It features a layout comprising both Roman and Arabic numerals for time indication. The perimeter of the dial is finished with an engraved gilded rim. Time is displayed via a set of blue steel hands, specified as the Beetle and Poker pattern.
- Case Description
- The watch is protected by silver pair cases, a functional design intended to shield the movement from debris. The inner case is equipped with a split bezel and contains markings corresponding to the movement serial number. The outer case includes a sturdy five-hinged square hinge, ensuring the fit of the two components. It is completed with a silver pendant and a stirrup-style bow, allowing the watch to be attached to a chain or chatelaine.
- Visible features
- • Blue steel Beetle and Poker hands • Engraved John Harris signature on movement backplate • Pierced and engraved balance cock with vestigial wings • Silver champlevé dial with mixed Roman and Arabic numerals
- Movement and Construction
- The movement is a deep full-plate design finished with fire gilding. The train is supported by Egyptian-style pillars, each featuring a decorative gallery at the top. The balance assembly features a pierced and engraved balance cock, detailed with vestigial wings. This supports a simple three-arm steel balance wheel. A silver disc is provided for regulation, allowing for adjustments to the timekeeping rate.
Identification
- 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 exact chronological precision of the late 17th-century dating remains broad based on the source description
- Research required: The maker signature attribution relies on the reading of the engraved plate provided in the source