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The Encyclopedia of Horology

Pocket watch · Pair case pocket watch

George Graham silver pair case pocket watch

Partially verified

According to the auction catalogue, this silver pair case pocket watch houses a gilt full plate movement signed 'Geo: Graham London' and numbered 5003, with the movement dated to 1722. The movement is configured with Egyptian pillars, a pierced and engraved balance cock with a diamond endstone, and silvered regulation. The 52mm watch is fitted with a later silver pair case bearing London hallmarks for 1784. Bonhams reports a later enamel dial with black Roman numerals and five-minute markers, lacking its hour hand.

Movement view of the George Graham pocket watch showing the engraved top plate, balance cock, and silver case
Movement view of the George Graham pocket watch showing the engraved top plate, balance cock, and silver case — Bonhams. Rights pending — permission not yet requested. Original source

Catalogue identity

Source
www.bonhams.com
Category
Pocket watch · Pair case pocket watch
Maker / attribution
George Graham
Reference
Not recorded
Catalogue / lot identifier
43
Source-reported date
1722 (movement), 1784 (case hallmark)
Country
United Kingdom
Source-reported serial
5003

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 Construction and Engraving

The gilt full plate movement is signed by the maker and recorded under movement number 5003, with the source dating the movement to 1722. Direct observation shows the top plate engraved with the signature 'Geo: Graham London' and the number '5003', accompanied by blued steel assembly screws and a silvered regulator dial marked with Arabic numerals.

The balance cock is pierced and engraved, displaying a relief-carved mask motif at the neck and a diamond endstone set within a central blue-rimmed setting. The cataloguer also notes that the movement is constructed with Egyptian pillars.

Evidence for this section
  • “Gilt top plate engraved with the signature 'Geo: Graham London' and number '5003'”
  • “Movement dates to 1722”
  • “Gilt full plate movement with pierced and engraved balance cock and diamond end stone, silvered regulation, Egyptian pillars”
  • “Elaborately pierced and engraved balance cock with a central blue-rimmed stone setting and a relief-carved mask motif at the neck”
  • “Silvered regulator dial marked with Arabic numerals”
  • “Blued steel assembly screws visible on the gilt plate”

Dial and Case Configuration

The piece measures 52mm across and is housed in a later silver pair case consisting of a hinged inner and outer case bearing London hallmarks for 1784. Visual inspection of the movement photograph shows the polished silver outer case hinged open.

Bonhams describes the watch as being fitted with a later enamel dial with black Roman numerals and outer five-minute markers. The catalogue description further notes that the hour hand is lacking.

Evidence for this section
  • “later enamel dial with black Roman numerals and outer five minute markers, hour hand lacking, with later silver hinged inner and outer case, movement signed 52mm.”
  • “London Hallmark for 1784”
  • “Hinged outer polished silver case shown swung open”

Provenance and Discrepancies

A marked chronological span exists between the movement and its outer housing: the movement dates to 1722, while the silver case carries London hallmarks for 1784. Bonhams explicitly identifies both the enamel dial and the silver hinged inner and outer cases as later additions.

Documented auction history records this watch at Sotheby's on 31st July 1980, lot 141. The dial side and internal case hallmarks are not visible in the available photograph, which shows only the movement side.

Evidence for this section
  • “Movement dates to 1722”
  • “London Hallmark for 1784”
  • “later enamel dial with black Roman numerals and outer five minute markers, hour hand lacking, with later silver hinged inner and outer case, movement signed 52mm.”
  • “Provenance: Sotheby's, 31st July 1980, lot 141.”

Open research questions

  • What specific silversmith mark and date letter appear on the 1784 London-hallmarked pair case?
  • What escapement type (e.g. verge or cylinder) is fitted to movement number 5003?
  • What is the design and condition of the surviving minute hand on the later enamel dial?

Source evidence

Recorded claims and source quotations for George Graham silver pair case pocket watch
FieldSource-reported valueSource quotation
Movement number5003“No.5003”
Case hallmarkLondon Hallmark for 1784“London Hallmark for 1784”
Movement date1722“Movement dates to 1722”
ProvenanceSotheby's, 31st July 1980, lot 141“Sotheby's, 31st July 1980, lot 141.”
Escapement endstoneDiamond“diamond end stone”
Overall diameter52mm“52mm.”
Pillar styleEgyptian“Egyptian pillars”

Visible details

  • Gilt top plate engraved with the signature 'Geo: Graham London' and number '5003'
  • Elaborately pierced and engraved balance cock with a central blue-rimmed stone setting and a relief-carved mask motif at the neck
  • Silvered regulator dial marked with Arabic numerals
  • Blued steel assembly screws visible on the gilt plate
  • Hinged outer polished silver case shown swung open

Research qualifications

  • Source notes the enamel dial and silver cases are later replacements
  • Source records the hour hand as lacking
  • Dial side is not visible in the provided lot image

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

Consulted source

Bonhams : George Graham. A silver pair case pocket watchNo.5003, London Hallmark for 1784, Movement dates to 1722

Reviewed 2026-10-21 · Record 1f8cce95d0

Terms in this record

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