Ellicott cylinder in silver pair cases

This is a fine London watch, in silver pair cases, with a good quality cylinder escapement, by a great London firm of watchmakers.

MOVEMENT : High quality gilded fusee cylinder movement, with engraved and pierced balance cock and plate. Very large diamond endstone. Round pillars.

Signed and numbered (8139). The gilt brass dustcap has matching signature and serial number. All in fine original condition and running well.

DIAL : Beautiful, original white enamel dial, in excellent condition. Just one tiny flake on the edge at 5.

Fine 18th century gold beetle and poker hands (probably original). Again in excellent condition.

INNER CASE : Silver, hallmarked for London, 1775, maker’s mark IR.

In good condition, though the stem and bow have been replaced and there is slight bruising around the winding aperture. The high dome bull’s eye crystal is fine.

OUTER CASE : Silver, with no hallmarks or makers’s mark.

The hinge and catch are fine, and the bezel snaps shut, though the catch button is worn down.

This outer case is a slightly later replacement. The thick stem on the inner case was probably added at the same time as the outer case added.

John Ellicott, born in 1706, was partnered with his son Edward, from 1760. He died in 1772. From 1758 all John Ellicott watches were simply signed Ellicott.

The inner case maker is probably James Richards who is recorded at Red Lion Court, London.