18thc. London Shagreen Pocket Watch

A late 18th century London watch, with a good verge movement, in gilt and shagreen pair cases. All in beautiful condition.

MOVEMENT : Gilt fusee movement, with verge escapement, beautifully engraved and pierced balance cock with scrolls and foliage to the table. Four round pillars, undamaged blued screws and silver regulator disk.

Signed Johnson, Gray’s Inn Passage and numbered 814.

All in particularly good condition and running well.

DIAL : A white enamel dial, in excellent condition, with just a few very light surface scratches.

Good blued steel 18thc. beetle and poker hands.

INNER CASE : Gilt brass, with maker’s mark TG, and number 5.

The metal of the case is in very good condition. There is a little wear to the gilding around the sides and to the stem and bow. The hinge is fine and the bezel closes correctly. The high dome bull’s eye crystal is good.

OUTER CASE : Gilt metal, covered with shagreen.

The shagreen is in very good condition, with a nice green colour. There is a little rubbing in places but no tears, pieces loose or missing or other damage. There is even wear to the gilt rims and catch button.
The gilt pique work is almost complete with just one pin missing from the bezel and again just one from the back.

The hinge, catch and catch button are good, and the bezel snaps shut correctly.

John Johnson is recorded as working at 9 Gray’s Inn Passage between 1770 and 1800.

The case maker is probably Thomas Gosling, of Lilypot Lane, London.