MOVEMENT : Gilt verge movement, with engraved and pierced balance bridge and plate. Blued screws and silver regulator disk. Signed ‘J. Tarts, London’ and numbered (6958). Good original condition, and running well.

DIAL : 40.5 mm. Silver champleve, in reasonable condition with four of the copper florets (half hour markers) replaced. Nice early brass hands.

INNER CASE : 44.5 mm, silver, hallmarks for London, 1778, rubbed maker’s mark. The hinge is fine and the case closes nicely. The high dome bull’s eye crystal is fine. The silver case is in reasonable condition although the stem has been reattached and there is slight compression around the band. The bow is a little bent.

OUTER CASE : 55 mm, silver, repousse. The hinge is a little worn but complete and the catch and catch button are fine. The case snaps shut nicely. Overall good condition with no holes but some wear to the high points of the repousse work.

Tarts is a name commonly used to sign watches made on the Continent during the mid 18th century. These are usually marked ‘London’ but were probably made in Holland or Switzerland. The English silver hallmarks on the inner case could be spurious.