Early London gold verge

An early 18th century London verge pocket watch, with original gold champleve dial, in a gold case.

MOVEMENT : Gilded movement with square pillars, silver regulator disk, and diamond endstone to the beautifully pierced and engraved, winged balance cock.

The movement is signed (CHAS. GOODE, LONDON).

All in very good condition and running well.

DIAL : A fine gold champleve dial, signed as the movement. In excellent condition.

Nice early 18th century, blued steel, beetle and poker hands.

CASE : 22ct. gold case, with London hallmarks for 1728, maker’s mark WS. Shutter to the winding aperture.

In very good condition, with some very light bruises and light scratches around the winding aperture. The hinge is fine and the bezel snaps shut correctly. The high dome crystal has some scratches but no chips.

Although fitted with a shutter to the winding aperture, this watch would probably originally have had a second, outer pair case.

The case maker is William Sherwood of St. Sepulchre’s Parish, Holborn, London.

Charles Goode was one of the first London makers to use jewelled bearing in watches. This began in London between 1705 and 1710. Makers such as Goode, Tompion and Graham were among the few to fit jewels, which never became normal practice with verge escapements. Such early work is very rare.