Very fine gold & enamel cylinder watch by Vulliamy

A large and wonderful quality cylinder watch by the Vulliamy company. With the exception of some damage to the dial, in exceptionally fine condition.

MOVEMENT : The gilt fusee movement has a cylinder escapement, with a beautifully engraved and pierced balance cock and plate featuring the serpent regulator pointer usually seen on Vulliamy watches. Four round pillars, and clean blued screws.

The movement is protected by a removable gilt dustcap.

Signed Vulliamy, LONDON and serial code ‘zus’.

Running well and in very fine condition.

DIAL : The fine white enamel dial is in perfect condition except for some hairlines in the edge between 8 and 10.

Fine gold beetle and poker hands

CASE : This is a large, heavy case in gold and enamel, with London hallmarks for 1793 (rubbed) and maker’s mark SG below a heart.

In excellent condition. The case is opened by pressing the top button on the bezel at 3 to open the back, and the bottom button for the bezel. The bezel and border of the back are decorated with an arcaded pattern of blue and white enamel. The centre of the back is decorated with blue guilloche enamel.

The hinges are fine and both back cover and front bezel open and close correctly. The bull’s eye crystal is good, though with a couple of small chips on the edge at 3 and 4 (almost hidden by the bezel.

The gold is in excellent condition, as is the enamel, with just some light scratches to the guilloche surface

Justin Vulliamy died in 1793, so this watch is probably by his son Benjamin Vulliamy.

Vulliamy

The case maker is Stephen Gillet who is listed at Compton Street, Soho, London in 1793.

PROVENANCE : The Leonard Fuller Collection