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Early English Gold Pair Cased Verge, 1710 — view 1 of 4
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Pocket Watches · Pocket watch

Early English Gold Pair Cased Verge, 1710

DocumentedDocumented from a dealer's listing; attribution and date as stated by the dealer.
Maker / attribution
Unrecorded in source
Date
1710
Country of origin
England
Object type
Pocket watch
Materials / technique
gold
Stock no.
Product 1284
Credit line
Dealer listing, WatchMuseum.org shop (product 1284)
Catalogue title (original)
Early English Gold Pair Cased Verge (English)

View the source record (dealer listing) ↗ (opens another website in a new tab)Suggest a correction

Record summary

Catalogued by WatchMuseum.org shop (stock number Product 1284), this is a pocket watch, made in England, dated 1710. The Atlas places it in the Early Modern Horology period (1600 – 1750) of its Pocket Watches collection. Materials and techniques recorded by the source: gold. The record is illustrated with 4 photographs.

Assembled from the source record's structured fields. Dates and attributions are given as the source states them; where a field is missing the Atlas leaves it blank rather than estimating.

Catalogue description

Dealer description — WatchMuseum.org shop

Step into the world of horological excellence with the ”EARLY ENGLISH GOLD PAIR CASED VERGE – 1710,” a captivating masterpiece that epitomizes the craftsmanship of early 18th Century English watchmaking. This remarkable timepiece boasts a deep full plate fire gilt movement, adorned with Egyptian pillars, and features a fusee and chain mechanism meticulously set up with a worm and wheel barrel between the plates. The watch’s winged cock with mask, along with its intricately pierced and engraved foot, showcases an exceptional level of artistry, while the plain steel balance and silver regulator disc ensure precision. The white enamel dial, elegantly displaying Roman and Arabic numerals, is complemented by blue steel beetle and poker hands. The gold pair cases, purpose-made with an unusual hinge on the inner, add a unique touch, and the bezel is distinguished by a single central lug. The pendant and bow, crafted from 18K gold, further enhance the watch’s elegance. Signed by Roger Case and dating back to circa 1710, this vintage watch, with a diameter of 56mm and a depth of 19mm, is not just a timepiece but a piece of history, making it an exquisite and valuable addition to any collection. This is a stunning example of an early 18th Century English verge watch with a deep full plate fire gilt movement and Egyptian pillars. The fusee and chain are set up with a worm and wheel barrel between the plates. The winged cock with mask and pierced and engraved foot are beautifully executed, and the plain steel balance and silver regulator disc add to the precision of the watch. The white enamel dial features Roman and Arabic numerals, blue steel beetle and poker hands, and the gold pair cases were purpose made with an unusual hinge on the inner. The bezel also stands out, featuring only one central lug. The pendant and bow are made of gold, adding to the elegance of the watch. The watch is signed by Roger Case and dates back to around 1710. This vintage watch has a diameter of 56mm and a depth of 19mm, making it an exquisite timepiece worth owning. Signed Roger Case Circa 1710 Diameter 56 mm Depth 19 mm Origin British Period 18th Century Materials Gold Carat for Gold 18 K

Historical context

Early Modern Horology (1600 – 1750)

Huygens' pendulum and balance spring transform accuracy; English makers develop the anchor and deadbeat escapements.

The balance spring (c. 1675) improved watches dramatically and introduced the minute hand. English pair-cased verge watches with pierced balance cocks and French oignons were typical; enamel painting at Blois and Geneva, and the repeating watch (1680s), made watches objects of great refinement.

Read the period in the timelineMore pocket watches from this periodEarlier: Renaissance Horology

Atlas type guide

Verge and pair-cased watches

After Christiaan Huygens and Robert Hooke applied the balance spring around 1675, the verge watch became a reasonably reliable timekeeper and the minute hand became standard. Through the eighteenth century the typical English watch was a pair-cased verge: a fusee movement with a pierced, engraved balance cock, housed in an inner case and a separate protective outer case, often of repoussé gold, shagreen, tortoiseshell or enamel.

French watches of the same period were thicker 'oignons', later replaced by elegant thinner watches following Jean-Antoine Lépine's bar-bridge calibre of c. 1770. Dutch, Swiss and German makers supplied international markets, and verge watches were made until the mid-nineteenth century as cheaper alternatives to the cylinder and lever.

What to look for

  • The pierced balance cock on the backplate: winged (continental) or with a foot (English); its style dates the watch.
  • Fusee and chain visible through the movement; key winding through the dial (early) or case back.
  • Hallmarks inside English silver or gold cases, which give a date letter.
  • Maker's name and serial number engraved on the backplate; watch papers inside outer cases.
  • Enamel dials (after c. 1720) versus earlier champlevé metal dials.

Dating clues

  • Champlevé dials: c. 1680–1730; white enamel dials thereafter.
  • English case hallmarks give the year of assay to within a year.
  • Verge watches persisted in cheap production until c. 1850.

General guidance written by the Atlas editors about this kind of object. It is not a statement about this particular piece; for that, rely on the source record above and on physical examination.

Read next:Balance spring (hairspring)Verge escapement

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