Skeletonised verge fusee pocket watch c1770
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
c1770
This antique open-face verge fusee pocket watch is dated circa 1770 and attributed to Wm Retlaw in London. Housed in a gilt case with engine turning, it features a skeletonised movement displaying pierced, engraved plates, square baluster pillars, and visible gearing.
A domed crystal on the back reveals the movement, while the dial side is described as having a bulls-eye glass and a white enamel dial with gilt pierced hands. The piece measures 45 mm in diameter by 25 mm in depth and operates by key winding and setting.
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 & pair-cased watch
- Dimensions
- 45mm wide x 25mm deep
- Case design
- Gilt open face case with hinged bezel and domed rear glass
- Place recorded
- United Kingdom
- Escapement type
- Verge escapement with square baluster pillars
- Maker's signature
- Wm Retlaw, London 2219
- Maker / attribution
- Wm Retlaw
- Movement modification
- Cut, pierced, and engraved skeletonised movement
Design
- Visible features
- • Open-face gilt case with patterned engine-turned texture along the rim and band • Domed clear back crystal revealing elaborate pierced scrollwork and a circular silvered regulator disc • Pendant neck positioned at twelve o'clock with the suspension bow set perpendicular to the case plane
- Identity and Attributed Dating
- The pocket watch is catalogued by dealer Atlam Watches as having been made circa 1770 in London, placed within the 18th Century Georgian period (1714 to 1837) under item code 4.329 (AB-213061). The movement is engraved with the signature and number 'Wm Retlaw, London 2219'. As noted in cataloguing cautions, the name 'Retlaw' is 'Walter' spelled backwards, suggesting a potential alias, pseudonym, or fictitious trade marking. Beyond the movement engraving and dealer description, independent maker records, guild entries, or hallmarking details are not recorded in this source.
- Case Construction and Observations
- The movement is mounted in an open-face gilt case measuring 45 mm in width by 25 mm in depth. The case is fitted with a hinged bezel, and the movement swings out from the front for winding and hand setting from the dial side. Physical observation and dealer notes record engine-turned decoration along the case rim and band. The front is fitted with a bulls-eye glass, while the back features a domed clear glass. The seller notes that the pendant bow is fixed at a right angle relative to the case plane, which aligns with visual observations of the perpendicular bow orientation.
- Movement Architecture and Dial Specifications
- The watch houses a fusee movement with a verge escapement and square baluster pillars. The plates have been cut, pierced, and engraved to skeletonise the movement and expose the mainspring, chain, and gear train. Visible through the clear rear glass are pierced scrollwork plates and a circular silvered regulator disc. The dial is described in the dealer listing as white enamel fitted with an original pair of gilt pierced hands, and the watch is key-wound and key-set, accompanied by an old key. However, the front dial side is not pictured in the provided movement-side photograph, so its visual state and numerals cannot be independently verified.
Identification
- Reference
- 4.329 (AB-213061)
- Serial number
- 2219
- 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 enamel dial described in the text is not visible in the provided movement-side photographs.
- Research required: Maker name Wm Retlaw appears to be a reversal of 'Walter' and may be an alias or trade pseudonym, though catalogued as Wm Retlaw.