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The Encyclopedia of Horology

Pocket watch · Verge pocket watch

English Silver Pair-Cased Verge Pocket Watch

Partially verified

This English verge pocket watch, dating from the late 17th century, is housed in silver pair cases. The movement is a deep full-plate construction featuring fire-gilt finishing and Egyptian-style pillars with top galleries. Power is transmitted through a fusee and chain mechanism. The balance cock is intricately pierced and engraved with vestigial wings, accompanying a simple three-arm steel balance and a silver regulator disc. The silver champlevé dial features Roman and Arabic numerals, a gilded and engraved outer rim, and blue steel Beetle and Poker hands. The pair case assembly includes an inner case with a split bezel and an outer case fitted with a five-hinged square hinge, a silver pendant, and a stirrup bow.

The watch with its silver champlevé dial and Beetle and Poker hands, shown in its pair case configuration.
The watch with its silver champlevé dial and Beetle and Poker hands, shown in its pair case configuration. — Zamanito / Pieces of Time. Rights pending — permission not yet requested. Original source

Catalogue identity

Source
zamanito.com
Category
Pocket watch · Verge pocket watch
Maker / attribution
II
Reference
Not recorded
Catalogue / lot identifier
Source URL identifies the listing
Source-reported date
Late 17th century
Source-reported place
England

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

Movement and Construction

The movement is a deep full-plate design finished with fire gilding. The train is supported by Egyptian-style pillars, each featuring a decorative gallery at the top.

The balance assembly features a pierced and engraved balance cock, detailed with vestigial wings. This supports a simple three-arm steel balance wheel. A silver disc is provided for regulation, allowing for adjustments to the timekeeping rate.

Evidence for this section
  • “موتور این ساعت از نوع تمام‌پلیت عمیق با روکش گیلت آتشی (fire gilt) است و از ستون‌های ظریف مصری (Egyptian pillars) با گالری در قسمت بالایی بهره می‌برد.”
  • “نیروی موتور از طریق سازوکار فوزه و زنجیر (fusee and chain) همراه با چرخ‌دنده و پیچ حلزونی مخزن کوک میان پلیت‌ها تأمین می‌شود.”
  • “خروسک (cock) مشبک‌کاری و حکاکی‌شده با بالچه‌های بازمانده (vestigial wings)”

Dial and Hands

The dial is executed in the champlevé technique on a silver base. It features a layout comprising both Roman and Arabic numerals for time indication. The perimeter of the dial is finished with an engraved gilded rim.

Time is displayed via a set of blue steel hands, specified as the Beetle and Poker pattern.

Evidence for this section
  • “صفحه نقره‌ای Champlevé دارای لبه‌ای طلایی و حکاکی‌شده بوده و ارقام آن شامل اعداد رومی و عربی است.”
  • “عقربه‌های فولادی آبی‌رنگ موسوم به Beetle and Poker تعبیه شده‌اند.”

Case Description

The watch is protected by silver pair cases, a functional design intended to shield the movement from debris. The inner case is equipped with a split bezel and contains markings corresponding to the movement serial number.

The outer case includes a sturdy five-hinged square hinge, ensuring the fit of the two components. It is completed with a silver pendant and a stirrup-style bow, allowing the watch to be attached to a chain or chatelaine.

Evidence for this section
  • “قاب‌های دوبل نقره‌ای شامل یک قاب داخلی با زه شکاف‌دار (split bezel)”
  • “قاب بیرونی به لولای مربعی پنج‌مفصله، آویز نقره‌ای و حلقه رکابی (stirrup bow) مجهز است.”

Open research questions

  • Does the 'II' mark refer to a specific assay mark or a secondary maker/finisher?
  • Can the movement signature 'John Harris' be cross-referenced with specific London clockmaking registers from the late 17th century to narrow the date?

Source evidence

Recorded claims and source quotations for English Silver Pair-Cased Verge Pocket Watch
FieldSource-reported valueSource quotation
Mechanism typeVerge escapement“مکانیزم مهار دوکی (Verge)”
Movement constructionFull-plate with fire gilt“تمام‌پلیت عمیق با روکش گیلت آتشی (fire gilt)”
Pillar typeEgyptian“ستون‌های ظریف مصری (Egyptian pillars)”
Dial typeSilver Champlevé“صفحه‌ای نقره‌ای با تکنیک Champlevé”
Outer case featuresFive-hinged square hinge“لولای مربعی پنج‌مفصله”
RegulatorSilver disc“دیسک رگولاتور نقره‌ای”
PeriodLate 17th century“اواخر سده هفدهم میلادی”

Visible details

  • Blue steel Beetle and Poker hands
  • Engraved John Harris signature on movement backplate
  • Pierced and engraved balance cock with vestigial wings
  • Silver champlevé dial with mixed Roman and Arabic numerals

Research qualifications

  • The exact chronological precision of the late 17th-century dating remains broad based on the source description
  • The maker signature attribution relies on the reading of the engraved plate provided in the source

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

Consulted source

Silver Champleve Dial Pair Cased Verge

Reviewed 2026-11-02 · Record 1d598e9acb

Terms in this record

Glossary explanations for terms named in this object’s record.

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