London Centre Seconds Cylinder

A very unusual and early cylinder centre seconds, in excellent condition.

MOVEMENT : Gilt fusee movement, with cylinder escapement, engraved and pierced balance cock, four thick baluster pillars and diamond endstone. The screws and endstone ring are all of blued steel.

Signed Peter MacDonald and numbered 205.

Running well and all in very good condition.

The movement is protected by a removable gilt dustcap, signed and numbered as the movement.

DIAL : A fine white enamel dial, in very good condition, with just some light scratches.

Good original 18th century gold beetle and poker hands, with matching gold seconds.

INNER CASE : Silver, with hallmarks for London, 1760, maker’s mark IC.

All in good condition though the stem has been reattached. The bezel snaps shut correctly.

The high dome bull’s eye crystal is very good.

OUTER CASE : A silver and horn (or tortoiseshell?) pair case, with pierced and engraved silver set into horn. The silver shows a snake, bird and flowers around the bezel, and an exotic bid surrounded by scrolls and flowers to the back.

The silver and horn are in good condition. The hinge, catch button and catch are fine and the case snaps shut.

There is a Peter MacDonald listed in London between 1790 and 1799, though this watch is a little earlier.

The watch dates from around 1780, though the inner case from 1760. This inner case is a perfect fit for the movement, with no visible modification. The wonderful outer case is from around 1780, so probably original to the movement.