Small London verge by Benjamin Gray

A small and good quality early 18th century London verge, by an important London maker.

MOVEMENT : A gilded movement with four baluster pillars, silver regulator disk, and finely pierced and engraved balance cock with diamond endstone.

The regulator pointer is formed as a serpent’s tail, a feature later adopted by Gray’s son in law, Justin Vulliamy.

The movement is signed Benj Gray, LONDON with serial code ‘nii’ (again a coding system later adopted by Vulliamy).

All in good condition, and running well.

DIAL : An attractive, signed, silver champleve dial. In perfect condition.

Good, but reproduction, blued steel beetle and poker hands.

INNER CASE : No hallmarks, but maker’s mark AR.

All in very good condition. The high dome bull’s eye crystal is good. The hinge is fine and the bezel snaps shut nicely. The stem has been reattached

OUTER CASE : As with the inner, no hallmarks, but maker’s mark matching the inner.

All in very good condition. The catch, catch button and hinge are fine and the bezel snaps shut nicely.

Benjamin Gray
The case maker is probably Adam Roumieu (II) of St. Ann’s, Blackfriars, London.