A good early 18th century London verge, with an interesting Scottish history.

MOVEMENT : Gilt verge movement, with finely engraved and pierced balance cock, blued screws, four square pillars, and large silver regulator disk. Signed (Pat Darby, LONDON) and numbered (51). Good condition throughout, and running well.

DIAL : White enamel dial in perfect condition except for a repair around the catch at 6. Gold coloured hands.

INNER CASE : Silver, with rubbed hallmarks. In good condition throughout, with just one small dent on the back. The hinge is fine and the bezel snaps shut. The high dome, bull’s eye crystal is also fine.

OUTER CASE : Silver pair case with no visible hallmarks. In good condition throughout, with just a little wear to the catch button. The catch and hinge are fine and the bezel snaps shut correctly.

The back is nicely engraved with the following :

Rev. James Knox

Minister of Scone

Born 1712, Died 1776.

The outer case also contains a watchpaper from Perth, dated 1832, and another paper with a delightful handwritten verse, entitled ‘Vita Brevi, Eternitas Longa’ (Life is short, Eternity is long).

This verse is signed ‘James Horne, M.D., Edinburgh’.

The Rev. James Knox’s eldest daughter married a surveyor named Horne and one of the sons of that marriage was named James. James Horne was therefore the grandson of the Rev. James Knox and must have eventually inherited this watch. James died in 1834.

Ref : “Geneological memoirs of John Knox” by Rev. Charles Rogers 1879 p.73.