Unusual mid 18thc. Halifax watch

A fine mid 18th century Yorkshire verge watch.

MOVEMENT : A fine, ornate gilt and silver verge movement, with silver engraved and pierced balance cock, blued screws, four square baluster pillars, and blued steel regulator disk.

Signed “Josh.a Stancliffe” and numbered 9946.

All in good condition, and running well.

DIAL : White enamel dial in good condition, though with surface scratches and one light hairline across the centre from 3 towards 9.

Signed “JOSHUA NAYLOR”.

Good 18thc blued steel beetle and poker hands.

INNER CASE : Silver, with London hallmarks for 1767, maker IB.

In good condition. The hinge is fine and the bezel snaps shut. The high dome bull’s eye crystal is fine. The stem is a little worn and the bow is probably a replacement.

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

In good condition though there is some solder under the inside rim of the back, though this isn’t visible from the outside. The catch and hinge are fine and the bezel snaps shut correctly. The catch button has worn down and been filled so it still functions correctly.

Joshua Stancliffe, born in 1708, in listed in Halifax (Yorks) until his bankruptcy in 1776.

This dial appears to be original to the watch, so Joshua Naylor is probably the original owner of the watch. When a maker signs the dial, it usually includes the place name.