
Pocket Watches · Pocket watch
Silver Pair Cased English Verge Pocket Watch, 1817
- Maker / attribution
- Unrecorded in source
- Date
- 1817
- Historical period
- Precision & Scientific Horology (1750 – 1850)
- Country of origin
- England
- Object type
- Pocket watch
- Materials / technique
- silver
- Dealer
- WatchMuseum.org shop
- Stock no.
- Product 4593
- Credit line
- Dealer listing, WatchMuseum.org shop (product 4593)
- Catalogue title (original)
- Silver Pair Cased English Verge Pocket Watch (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 4593), this is a pocket watch, made in England, dated 1817. The Atlas places it in the Precision & Scientific Horology period (1750 – 1850) of its Pocket Watches collection. Materials and techniques recorded by the source: silver. The record is illustrated with 3 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 back in time with the exquisite “Silver Pair Cased English Verge Pocket Watch” from 1817, a true marvel of early 19th-century horology. This antique timepiece is a stunning example of English craftsmanship, encased in elegant silver pair cases that protect its intricate inner workings. The watch boasts a full plate fire gilt fusee movement with round pillars, showcasing the mechanical ingenuity of the era. Its detailed features, such as the pierced and engraved cock, silver regulator disc, and plain three-arm steel balance with a blue steel spiral hairspring, reflect the high level of artistry involved in its creation. The dial, adorned with white enamel and Roman numerals, exudes a timeless elegance, complemented by gilt hands that add a touch of sophistication. Matching silver pair cases, complete with a silver pendant and bow, further enhance its classic design. The maker’s mark “WM” signifies the skilled craftsman behind this masterpiece. Measuring 57 mm in diameter and 15 mm in depth, this pocket watch is not just a functional timepiece but a historical artifact that embodies the artistry and precision of its time. Whether as a collector’s item or a unique accessory, this 1817 English verge watch is a testament to the enduring beauty and craftsmanship of antique horology. This is a beautiful antique timepiece from the early 19th century. It is an English verge watch housed in silver pair cases. The watch features a full plate fire gilt fusee movement with round pillars, which adds to its mechanical complexity and craftsmanship. The intricate details of the watch include a pierced and engraved cock, a silver regulator disc, and a plain three-arm steel balance with a blue steel spiral hairspring. The dial of the watch is adorned with white enamel and Roman numerals, further enhancing its classic and elegant design. The hands of the watch are made of gilt, adding a touch of sophistication. The silver pair cases of the watch match perfectly, with a silver pendant and bow. The maker’s mark “WM” is also present, indicating the skilled craftsman who created this timepiece. Overall, this early 19th century English verge watch in silver pair cases is not only a functional timepiece but also a testament to the craftsmanship and artistry of the era. It would make a beautiful addition to any collection or a unique and stylish accessory to wear. Anonymous English Hallmarked London 1817 Diameter 57 mm Depth 15 mm
Historical context
Precision & Scientific Horology (1750 – 1850)
Harrison solves longitude; Mudge invents the lever; Breguet's Paris workshop defines the modern watch.
From 1750 to 1850 the watch became a precision instrument. Mudge's lever escapement, the cylinder escapement, Lépine's thin bar calibre, Breguet's innovations (overcoil, tourbillon, perpétuelle) and the pocket chronometer of Arnold and Earnshaw all date from this period, while verge watches remained common in cheaper production.
Read the period in the timelineMore pocket watches from this periodEarlier: Early Modern 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:Verge escapement
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