A rare early centre seconds verge, by a good London maker.

MOVEMENT : A fine quality gilded verge fusee movement, with beautifully engraved and pierced balance cock with diamond endstone. Signed and numbered (1240). Running and all in good condition with just some scratches around the top of one pillar. The movement is protected by a removable gilt dustcap.

DIAL : Excellent signed white enamel, with centre seconds, in fine condition with no hairlines, repairs or significant scratches. Later hands.

INNER CASE : Silver, hallmarks for Birmingham, 1788. Maker’s mark HB. Good condition with just one light bruise on the edge of the back. The high dome bull’s eye crystal is fine. The hinge and catch are good and the case closes properly.

OUTER CASE : Silver, with matching hallmarks to the inner. Good condition with just some dents to the catch button and a few bumps to the bezel. The hinge and catch are fine and the case closes correctly.

Although the movement fits perfectly in the case, this is not the original case. The brass hinge sleeves on the movement are slightly too narrow for the case hinge and the winding square on the movement doesn’t line up perfectly with the aperture in the inner case (though can still be wound through the case ok). So at some stage this movement has been recased, although the date of the pair case is about right for the movement, eg. 1788.

James Tregent is listed in London from 1759, and in the Clockmakers Company between 1781 and 1808. He was Watchmaker to the Prince of Wales.