Massive pair cased verge with very heavy chain

This is an oversized and exceptionally heavy verge pocket watch, with an equally heavy gauge silver chain.

MOVEMENT : Gilded fusee verge movement, with nicely pierced and engraved balance cock showing a mask at the neck. A large diamond endstone, Bosley type regulator and four round pillars.

Signed Jas. Swingler, Grantham and numbered 7311.

All in very good original condition and running well.

DIAL : White enamel dial, in excellent condition.

Fine matching gold hands

INNER CASE : Silver, with London hallmarks for 1811 and maker’s mark MA.

In excellent condition throughout. The high dome synthetic crystal is fine.

OUTER CASE : A massive silver case, with matching hallmarks and maker’s mark to the inner.

Again in excellent condition throughout The silver at the middle of the back of this outer case is about 6 mm. thick.

CHAIN : Incredibly heavy and substantial silver chain, 36.5 cm. long. Graduated links, with clips at both ends. Unmarked except for a Continental silver mark on the smaller clip.

All in good condition.

This watch is exceptionally heavy, weighing a total of over 566 gms. plus about 135 gms. for the chain. Although only a little wider than a normal sized watch of the period, the exceptionally heavy silver cases are very rare. It may have been made as an exhibition piece or perhaps made for a specific purpose where extra strength and weight were required.

James Swingler is listed in Louth (also Lincolnshire) in about 1810.

The case maker is probably Mary Atkins of Bridgewater Square, Clerkenwell, London.