George Prior (1750-1825)
A London maker, specialising in clocks and watches for the Ottoman market, from about 1770. The watches are usually with Turkish numerals on the dial, and within multiple cases (pairs, triples and quadruples).
Edward Prior (active c1812-?)
Son and successor of George, and like his father was a good London maker of watches for Turkey and the Ottoman Empire.
Prior continued to make thick, multi cased, verge watches, of an earlier style, right up until the late 19th century.
According to some research published by Jan Kraminer, the serial numbers of Prior watches may be roughly dated as follows:
George:
1772 No. 6053
1777 No. 11773
1782 No. 14580
1790 No. 16672
1800 No. 28674
1810 No. 35821
1813 No. 41966
Edward:
1814 No. 38694
1820 No. 45662
1833 No. 50699
1840 No. 57710
1850 No. 65764
1862 No. 74360
1875 No. 80191
Photos :
Silver and shell quadruple cased verge, Edward Prior, 1842.
Silver and shell triple cased verge, George Prior, 1804.
References :
Brian Loomes. Watchmakers and Clockmakers of the World (NAG Press, 2006).
Jan Kraiminer. Antiquarian Horology Journal, Vol 27, p 770.
