Very fine early London Verge pocket watch

An early London verge watch, in silver pair cases, by a very good maker. All in fine condition.

MOVEMENT : Gilt verge movement, with very well engraved and pierced winged balance cock, featuring a mask at the top of the table, amid foliage and scrolls. Four wide crested tulip pillars.

Signed John Pepys, London.

In very good condition with just a little surface rubbing on the edge of the top plate above the signature. Running well.

DIAL : Fine silver champleve dial, with signed central disk .

In very good condition throughout. Early 18thc. blued steel beetle and poker hands, again in excellent condition.

INNER CASE : Silver, with maker’s mark IR (conjoined).

In excellent condition throughout. The hinge is complete and the bezel snaps shut correctly. The high dome bull’s eye crystal is fine.

OUTER CASE : Silver, with matching maker’s mark to the inner.

Again, in very good condition, with just a couple of very small, light bruises. The hinge, catch button and catch are fine and the case snaps close correctly.

John Pepys, clock and watchmaker, was free of the Clockmakers Company in 1680. Before then he was apprenticed to Jonathon Harris from 1672. He was Master of the Company in 1707 and is thought to have died in about 1720.

The case maker’s mark is probably that of John Richards.