A 17thc. Single Handed Ipswich Watch

A nice early single handed London verge, with an associated outer case.

MOVEMENT : Gilt verge movement, with engraved and pierced balance cock and plate. Four beautifully made tulip pillars. Single handed movement, so no centre wheel. The hand is driven directly from the gut driven fusee cone (see photo).

Signed Fra. Colman, Ipswich

All in good original condition and running well.

DIAL : Fine silver champleve dial in good condition, though with a scrsatch across the numeral IIII.

Nice early blued steel hand.

INNER CASE : Silver, no hallmarks, but maker’s mark (possibly TE?).

In good condition, with a few light bruises around the band and some wear to the ends of the hinge. The bezel closes well. Good high dome crystal with no damage.

OUTER CASE : Brass pair case with silver rims, hinge, catch button and pique work.

The hinge is fine and the case snaps shut nicely. The catch and catch button are good (button slightly dented).
The black leather covering and pins are incomplete with about 25% missing from the bezel and about 20% mssing from the centre of the back.

This outer case is not original to the inner, and is slightly too wide. However it is of the same period.

Francis Colman (I) is listed in Ipswich from his marriage in 1668 until his death, possibly in 1709.

The shape of the balance cock foot and the pillars (typical of Thomas Tompion and Joseph Windmills) date this watch towards the end of the 17th century, probably about 1680. Single handed watches were seldom made in England after about 1790, though persisted in France a little longer.

The balance cock table on this watch is stabilised by being pinned to a post from the plate. This is an original component of the movement and not a later addition. It is a feature seen occasionally on early 18thc. London watches but rare on earlier watches.