George Graham repeating cylinder watch

A mid 18th century London repeating watch, with cylinder escapement, in silver gilt & shagreen pair cases, with later enamel dial.

This is a rare opportunity to acquire a genuine George Graham cylinder quarter repeater. The movement is complete, original and in excellent working condition.
However the cases, bell and dial are all either later or poorly fitted replacements.  So a wonderful restoration project.

MOVEMENT : Gilded cylinder escapement, engraved and pierced balance cock, with mask to the neck and diamond endstone. Five rounds baluster pillars and silver regulator disk.

Signed ‘G. Graham, LONDON’ and numbered 646.

The underside of the balance cock neck is also numbered 646 (as is usual with Graham’s watches).

The movement is in very good, complete condition, and is running and repeating correctly.

The movement is protected by a removable gilt dustcap, signed ‘Geo Graham, London’ and scratch marked on the inside with the movement number 646.

DIAL : Later enamel, smaller than the dial false plate. In poor condition with chips on the edge at 6 and hairlines around the edge between 7 and 9. A signature has been scratched out.

Fancy gilt hands (later).

INNER CASE : Silver gilt, pierced and engraved around the band.

In reasonable condition, though the neck has been reinforced with a brass plate. The hinge is worn but ok, and the bezel snaps shut though leaves a gap.

The bull’s eye high dome crystal is good.

The bell is screwed (loose) to the inside of the case, and is undamaged. During the repeat, the two steel hammers don’t make contact with the bell. The bell appears to be too small and/or too shallow.

OUTER CASE : A good shagreen covered gilt case. The centre of the back is nicely decorated with gilt pinwork. The bezel and band are pierced with sound holes.

In very good condition. The hinge, catch button and catch are all fine and the bezel snaps shut correctly.
There is just one pin missing, and two sound hole pieces (one replaced with a white metal version).

REFERENCE : This watch is listed in “Thomas Tompion 300 Years” by Jeremy Evans, Jonathan Carter & Ben Wright. This excellent book includes lists of movement serial numbers for Tompion and his successors. This reference dates the watch to about 1731 (based on hallmarked watches with near serial numbers).

PROVENANCE : The Norman Dean collection. Purchased in 1971.

George Graham