This is an English, silver and shell, quadruple cased pocket watch, with Turkish dial. It has a verge escapement fusee movement, and was made around 1874 by Edward Prior in London.

MOVEMENT : Nicely gilded movement with very ornate pillars, blued screws, and engraved and pierced balance cock. The movement is signed and numbered (72092). It is in good original condition and is running well.

DIAL : The signed white enamel dial is in excellent, almost mint condition with just a few very light surface scratches. Nice early blued steel beetle and poker hands.

SILVER INNER CASE : Silver, hallmarked for London, 1874, maker TH. In very good condition with no repairs and just a few light scratches and a couple of very small dents. Very high dome crystal in good condition with just one small chip on the bezel. The hinge is fine and the case snaps shut nicely.

SILVER SECOND CASE : Matching hallmarks to the inner. The silver is again in good condition with just some wear to the catch button and a small split on the bezel.

SILVER/SHELL THIRD CASE : No silver hallmarks. The construction is of a brass base with silver rims. In quite good condition with a nice colour to the shell. There are quite a few silver pins missing (about 30%) and several small pieces of shell missing, mostly from around the edge of the back. The hinge and catch are fine (the catch button is worn down) and the case snaps shut correctly.

SILVER FOURTH CASE : No makers marks. The case is complete with hinge, catch and catch button and it snaps shut. There are some old repairs to the front where solder has been applied to the inside and there are cracks towards the middle of the back.

Edward Prior worked in London during most of the 19th century. Like his father, George, who he succeeded, Prior specialized in watches for the Eastern market and was making verge watches of 18th century style, still popular in this market, well into the 19th century.