Irish Gold and Enamel Lever, 1863

Dealer description — WatchMuseum.org shop

Immerse yourself in the rich history and exquisite craftsmanship of the “Irish Gold and Enamel Lever – 1863,” a rare mid-19th century timepiece that epitomizes the elegance and precision of Irish watchmaking. This extraordinary fusee lever watch is encased in a full hunter case made of luxurious 18-carat gold, adorned with intricate shamrock motifs, the cherished emblem of Ireland. The watch boasts a finely crafted gilt three-quarter plate keywind movement, featuring a fusee and chain, Harrison’s maintaining power, and an engraved cock with a polished steel regulator. Its plain three-arm gold balance, blue steel spiral hairspring, and English table roller lever escapement highlight the meticulous attention to detail. The dial is a masterpiece in itself, engraved and decorated with applied gold Roman numerals, blue steel hands, and a subsidiary seconds hand, all encased within a substantial ribbed middle. Both covers of the case are embellished with rows of translucent green enamel shamrocks, with the front cover showcasing a shield-shaped cartouche bearing a heraldic device and the back cover centered by a harp in blue and red enamel. This watch, hallmarked Dublin 1863, carries the maker’s mark “JD” and a corresponding movement number, identifying it as the work of John Donegan, a distinguished Dublin watchmaker active since 1837. With a diameter of 53 mm, this timepiece is not only a functional instrument but also a work of art, reflecting the heritage and craftsmanship of its era. This is a rare mid-19th century Irish fusee lever watch enclosed in a full hunter case made of gold and decorated with shamrocks, the symbol of Ireland. The finely crafted gilt three-quarter plate keywind movement features a fusee and chain, Harrison’s maintaining power, an engraved cock with polished steel regulator, a plain three-arm gold balance with blue steel spiral hairspring, and an English table roller lever escapement. The dial is beautifully engraved and decorated with applied gold Roman numerals and blue steel hands. The dial also features a subsidiary seconds hand. The 18 carat full hunter case is quite substantial, with a ribbed middle and both covers decorated with two rows of shamrocks in translucent green enamel. The front cover has a shield-shaped cartouche with a heraldic device, while the back cover is centered by a harp in blue and red enamel. The maker’s mark “JD” is present, as well as a number corresponding to that on the movement. This is an attractive and rare watch, which appears to have been made locally, as evidenced by the maker’s mark JD on the case and ID stamped on the movement. The watch was crafted by John Donegan, a master watchmaker from Dublin who had two shops and was active in 1837. The watch is hallmarked Dublin 1863, and has a diameter of 53 mm. Signed John Donegan – Dublin Hallmarked Dublin 1863 Diameter 53 mm