Late 18thc. regulator dial verge or “doctor’s” watch

A large, late 18th century London verge watch, in silver pair cases, with a regulator style “doctor’s” dial with calendar and stop lever.

MOVEMENT : A gilt fusee movement, with verge escapement, engraved and pierced balance cock and four round pillars. Blued screws and large silver regulator disk.

Signed James Traies, Dartmouth and numbered “No. 1”.

A steel lever under the dial at 9 allows the movement to be stopped and restarted.

Running well, and in good condition.

DIAL : A fine regulator style white enamel dial, with hour, seconds and calendar subsidiary dials. Central minute hand.

In very good condition with some light scratches but no chips or hairlines.

Gilt hands, and blued steel seconds.

INNER CASE : Silver, with hallmarks for London, 1790, maker’s mark RPCS.

The silver is in good condition with just a few light bruises and some compression around the band. The hinge is good and the bezel snaps shut but is tight and requires some pressure on both sides to snap closed correctly.

The high dome bull’s eye crystal is good.

OUTER CASE : Silver pair case, with matching hallmarks and maker’s mark to the inner.

The silver in very good condition, the hinge and catch are fine and bezel snaps shut but the catch button has worn down.

James Traies is listed in Dartmouth in 1790. He was apprenticed to Francis Trobridge of Crediton up until 1790, so perhaps this watch (No. 1) was the first produced under his own name as he left the apprenticeship and later moved to Exeter.

The case makers are Richard Palmer and Charles Saffell of Clerkenwell.