A very fine early London pair cased verge in wonderful original condition, with a particularly fine dial

MOVEMENT : Beautiful gilt verge movement, with finely engraved and pierced winged balance cock and engraved plate, silver regulator disk and four finely made Egyptian pillars. Signed “C. Cabrier, London” and numbered (1174). The large balance cock has a very small steel set endstone, which appears to be original. In excellent condition and running well.

DIAL : A particularly fine and interesting silver champleve dial, signed in the centre “Cabrier, London”. The very unusual centre disk is steel, finely chased with gold. The half hour markers are formed as small gold fleur de lys. All in excellent condition with no rubbing or wear.

Early gilt hands, not quite matching.

INNER CASE : Silver with maker’s mark IR crowned. In very good condition though the stem and bow are later replacements (and are base metal). A couple of very light bruises on the back. The hinge is fine and the bezel closes well. The high dome crystal has a couple of tiny chips, right on the edge and hidden by the bezel.

OUTER CASE : Silver with no marks. With large square hinge, typical of the period around 1700. There are a couple of very light bruises to the back, but generally the silver is in very good condition. The hinge, catch and catch button are fine and the case snaps shut correctly.

Charles Cabrier (I), the first of a family of fine London watchmakers throughout the 18th century, is recorded in the Clockmakers’ Company from 1698, and died in 1726. This watch dates from the very early 18th century, probably between 1700 and 1710.