Gold and Enamel English Verge Pocket Watch by Strigel
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
late 18th century
This late 18th-century English pocket watch features a verge fusee mechanism housed in a 22-karat gold consular case. The exterior of the case is decorated with translucent dark blue champlevé enamel featuring scalloped borders in white.
The reverse side displays a machine-turned guilloché ground overlaid with translucent blue enamel, centered by a navette-shaped panel depicting a miniature of a mother and two children in a garden. The white enamel dial is signed "STRIGEL LONDON" and indicates hours with Roman numerals and minutes with Arabic numerals. It features gold "beetle and poker" hands. The fire-gilt, full-plate movement is engraved "Geo. Phil.
Strigel London" and includes a pierced, engraved balance cock with a diamond endstone set in a blue-steel setting. The watch is accompanied by a gold Breguet-style ratchet winding key with blue enamel champlevé detailing, and a gold chain.
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
- Date
- Late 18th century
- Type
- Verge pocket watch
- Maker
- George Philip Strigel
- Escapement
- Verge
- Case material
- 22-karat gold
- Dial signature
- STRIGEL LONDON
- Place recorded
- England
- Case maker mark
- I.W
- Balance endstone
- Diamond
- Maker / attribution
- George Philip Strigel
Design
- Visible features
- • White enamel dial with Roman and Arabic numerals • Gold beetle and poker style hands • Translucent blue enamel over guilloché case back • Pierced and engraved balance cock
- Movement and Escapement
- The watch utilizes a full-plate movement finished with fire gilding. The balance cock is intricately pierced and engraved. The oscillation is controlled by a plain three-arm steel balance and a blue steel hairspring. The balance assembly includes a diamond endstone mounted within a blue-steel setting. Adjustment is provided by a silver regulator disc. The movement is signed "Geo. Phil. Strigel London" on the plate.
- Case and Dial Construction
- The timepiece is housed in a 22-karat gold consular case. The perimeter of the case features white and translucent dark blue champlevé enamel arranged in scalloped designs. The rear of the case is executed with a machine-turned guilloché base, which is finished in translucent dark blue enamel. Set within the center of the case back is a navette-shaped panel featuring a multi-colored miniature painting depicting a mother and two children in a garden setting. The white enamel dial features black Roman numerals for the hours and Arabic numerals for the minutes, with the signature "STRIGEL LONDON" prominently displayed.
- Accessories and Condition Report
- The watch is provided with an integrated gold Breguet-style ratchet winding key. The key ring is decorated with blue champlevé enamel. Also included is a short gold chain with a hinged clip and safety screw-cap on one end and a small spring clip on the other. The auction description notes that dimensions and current mechanical functionality are not specified. Collectors are advised to verify the condition of the fusee chain and the integrity of the enamel work independently.
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: Current working condition is not stated by the source
- Research required: Missing technical dimensions in millimeters
- Research required: Condition of fusee chain and enamel integrity remains unverified