Early London watch with rare ‘through dial’ regulator

A very rare, early London verge, with ‘though the dial’ regulation.

MOVEMENT : A gilded movement with four large, divided Egyptian pillars, an exceptionally finely pierced and engraved winged balance cock, with a mask to the neck of the table. Ribbed steel balance wheel. There is no regulator disk, as this is placed on the dial side.

The balance cock table is stabilised by two small screwed down brackets.

The movement is signed Thos. Windmills, London, and both movement plates are engraved with the serial number 3395.

All in good condition, and running well. There is an old repair to a couple of teeth on the fusee wheel, as evident by some solder marks This old repair is strong and accurate.

There are a few unusual features of this movement, though all seen occasionally on other Windmills watches of the period.

The serial number is engraved on both plates, though hidden.

The brackets attached to the balance cock table was a feature used by other makers of the period, though often using just a single bracket.

The regulation through the dial is very occasionally seen on other Windmills watches. A very similar example to this watch, bearing serial no. 3820, was sold by Christies, London in June 2002 (Lot 49). This watch also bears the same case marker’s mark.

The balance hairspring spirals anticlockwise from the staff, rather than the normal clockwise.  To accommodate this, the bracket on the regulator rack is on the right hand end of the rack, rather than the normal left.

The ribbed surface of the steel balance wheel is a feature also seen on watches of the period by Thomas Tompion.

DIAL : A fine silver champleve dial, with inset blued steel regulator disk (gilt numerals), and regulator adjustment square at 12. Signed WINDMILLS.

Original and in very good condition. Just a little tarnishing to the regulator disk.

Nice early ornate gilt hands, in very good condition.

INNER CASE : No hallmarks, but marked with the movement serial number 3395. and slightly worn maker’s mark W-I.

In good condition.
The high dome crystal is fine.
The hinge is fine and the bezel snaps shut nicely. The stem has been reattached and reinforced (the solder showing through to the outside at the neck). There is a little wear to the bow and stem, with the base metal showing through.

OUTER CASE : Silver, with repousse decoration throughout.

The catch and hinge are fine and the bezel snaps shut though the catch button has been crushed.

The repousse decorated back is in good condition, with very little wear and no holes or repairs. The scene shows a well dressed gentleman, with his dog, and buildings behind. All surrounded by scrolls and flowers.

The bezel has a few old repairs around the rim (seen from the inside), though the bezel is still strong with just one small edge of the silver rim missing.

Thomas Windmills

W.I is the mark of William Jaques, watch case maker, born c. 1665, Free in the Clockmakers’ Company 1687, died 1719. Jaques was one of the leading casemakers in London at the end of the 17th century and was one of the more prolific workshops of the time, making cases for makers such as Joseph & Thomas Windmills, Simon Decharmes and John Bushman.