Early 18thc. London Gold Watch By Important Maker

An early London verge watch, by an important London maker, in gold pair cases. All in good condition

MOVEMENT : Gilt verge movement, with beautifully engraved and pierced balance cock.
The quality of this engraving is exceptional.

Four Egyptian pillars, nicely pierced stop work gate, silver regulator disk and blued screws.

Signed Claude Viet, LONDON and numbered 833.

There are some light scratches around a pillar top, but generally in excellent condition and running well.

DIAL : Gold champleve dial, in very good condition.

Signed VIET, LONDON.

Good early 18thc. blued steel hands in fine condition.

INNER CASE : Gold case, with London hallmarks for 22ct., 1720, maker’s mark SG (below a scroll crest) and movement serial number 833.

The bow and stem are later, but are also gold (18ct.).

In good condition throughout. The hinge and the high dome bull’s eye crystal are fine and the bezel closes correctly.

OUTER CASE : Gold pair case, with maker’s mark SG (below a fish), but no hallmarks (tests as high carat gold).

Again in good condition except for a short crack on the back near the hinge. The hinge and catch are fine and the case closes correctly.

The gold cases, excluding crystal, weigh about 73 gms.

The case maker is Stephen Goujon, who was made a Freeman of the Clockmakers’ Company in 1720. Both maker’s marks (SG below a scroll and below a fish) are his marks.

Claude Viet was a Huguenot watchmaker and native of Orléans. He moved to London although the exact date of his move is not known. Records start with his marriage in 1696 and in 1698 Viet was free from the Watchmaker’s Company. His daughter Mariane was apprenticed to him in 1714.
Viet was Watchmaker to Queen Caroline (wife of George II) and he died in 1734.