Pocket watch · Verge & pair-cased watch

A Fine George III Gold Pair-Cased Pocket Watch with Cylinder Escapement

Partially verified

According to the auction house, this George III gold pair-cased pocket watch was made by Thomas Mudge and William Dutton and is hallmarked for London, 1781. The gilt full-plate single fusee movement incorporates four baluster pillars, a cylinder escapement, a sprung three-arm steel balance with Tompion-type regulation, and an intricately pierced balance cock signed and numbered 1207. A signed gilt brass dust cover encloses the movement. The convex white enamel dial features Roman hours, outer Arabic five-minute numerals, and gold beetle and poker hands. Both gold cases were stamped by London casemaker John Terrill Pain.

Dial and front view of the gold pair-cased pocket watch — Dreweatts. Rights pending — permission not yet requested. Original source

Catalogue identity

Source: auctions.dreweatts.com
Category: Pocket watch · Verge & pair-cased watch
Form: Pair-cased pocket watch
Maker / attribution: Thomas Mudge and William Dutton
Reference: Not recorded
Catalogue / lot identifier: 225
Source-reported date: 1781
Source-reported place: United Kingdom
Source-reported serial: 1207

Maker profile: Thomas Mudge — history, key models and current watchmaking.

Source-reported attribution and specifications are not independent authentication. A listing does not establish present ownership, current display, availability or permission to reproduce.

Object description

Construction and Casework

The timepiece is housed in a gold pair case, with both cases bearing London hallmarks for 1781. The casemaker is identified as John Terrill Pain of Fetter Lane, London, based on the 'I T P' stamp.

The inner case is fitted with a suspension post and ring at twelve o'clock and a convex glass bezel. The conforming outer case features an engraving of an oval cartouche containing an armorial crest of a fist grasping a crescent over the initials 'R H'. The outer case measures 5cm in diameter.

Evidence for this section

“both cases marked for London 1781 maker I T P for John Terrill Pain of Fetter Lane, London.”
“the gold inner case applied with suspension post and ring at twelve o'clock and fitted with convex glass to bezel”
“the outer case 5cm (2ins) diameter.”
“the conforming outer case engraved with an oval cartouche enclosing armorial of a fist grasping a crescent over initials R H”

Mechanism

The watch utilizes a gilt full-plate single fusee movement with four square-section baluster pillars pinned through the backplate. It features a cylinder escapement regulated by a sprung three-arm steel balance with Tompion-type regulation.

The backplate includes an asymmetric foliate scroll-pierced balance cock with a herringbone-bordered rim and a grotesque mask. It is signed 'Tho's Mudge, W. Dutton, London' and numbered 1207. A gilt brass dust cover is similarly signed. Auction documentation states the escape wheel is a replacement.

Evidence for this section

“The gilt full plate single fusee movement with four square section baluster pillars pinned through the backplate, scroll-pierced stop-iron block and cylinder escapement regulated by sprung three-arm steel balance with Tompion type regulation”
“opposing signature Tho's Mudge, W. Dutton, London and numbered 1207”
“The escape wheel is a replacement”

Dial and Visuals

The watch features a slightly convex white enamel dial displaying Roman numerals for the hours and an outer track with Arabic numerals at five-minute intervals. It is fitted with gold beetle and poker hands.

The dial contains a small dimple near the XI numeral, observable upon close inspection under reflected light.

Evidence for this section

“slightly convex white enamel Roman numeral dial incorporating Arabic five minutes to outer track and with gold beetle and poker hands”
“The dial appears to be in perfect condition except for a very slight tiny dimple to the enamel next to the XI numeral (can only be seen on very close examination under reflected light).”

Open research questions

Does the serial number 1207 align with established production records for the Mudge and Dutton partnership?
What is the historical significance of the specific service replacement of the escape wheel in relation to the original cylinder escapement?

Source evidence

Recorded claims and source quotations for A Fine George III Gold Pair-Cased Pocket Watch with Cylinder Escapement
Field	Source-reported value	Source quotation
Maker	Thomas Mudge and William Dutton	“Thomas Mudge and William Dutton, hallmarked London 1781”
Movement Number	1207	“opposing signature Tho's Mudge, W. Dutton, London and numbered 1207”
Escapement	Cylinder escapement	“scroll-pierced stop-iron block and cylinder escapement regulated by sprung three-arm steel balance”
Casemaker	John Terrill Pain	“both cases marked for London 1781 maker I T P for John Terrill Pain of Fetter Lane, London.”
Outer Case Diameter	5cm	“the outer case 5cm (2ins) diameter.”
Provenance	R. Hibbert	“Supplied new in 1781 to R. Hibbert (believed to be Robert) thence by direct family descent to the present owner.”
Included Accessories	Gold winding key	“Watch is complete with a late Georgian gold winding key.”

Visible details

Convex white enamel dial featuring black Roman numeral hours
Outer track delineated with Arabic numerals at five-minute intervals
Gold beetle and poker center hands
Polished yellow gold pair case fitted with round pendant and suspension bow at 12 o'clock
Visible exterior hinge positioned along the side of the gold outer case

Research qualifications

The internal movement, dust cap, and hallmarks are not visible in the provided primary dial-side photograph
Cataloguer condition report indicates that the escape wheel is a replacement

Photograph identity and source facts were screened before import; rights clearance remains pending.