MOVEMENT : Gilt verge movement, with particularly finely engraved and pierced solid silver balance cock and plate. Fully signed and numbered (1769). Fine condition with just a little tarnishing on the blued steel regulator disk. Running well.

DIAL : 35 mm. White enamel dial, signed ‘William Balmer, Liverpool’ with very unusual dotted decoration to the chapter ring. In good condition with no repairs but some surface scratches and a short hairline across the edge at 4.

INNER CASE : 42 mm, silver, hallmarked for London, 1768/69, maker’s mark IL. The hinge is fine and the case closes nicely. Good high dome bull’s eye crystal with no damage. Excellent condition throughout except for wear to the bow.

OUTER CASE : 49 mm, silver, hallmarks matching the inner. The hinge and catch are fine, though the catch button has been worn down. In overall very nice condition.

Both movement and dial are right for the case date of 1768/69, and no reason to doubt that they are both original. There is a William Balmer listed as a maker in Prescot (near Liverpool) from 1795 to 1797. This is a little late for the watch (case, movement and dial), but a coincidence that he should come from Prescot. The movement is numbered 1769 which is the same as the hallmark year (1768/69). Another coincidence.