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The Encyclopedia of Horology

Pocket watch · Pair cased pocket watch

Justin Vulliamy Gold Pair Cased Pocket Watch

Partially verified

This 18th-century gold pair-cased pocket watch is reported by the auctioneer to date from London, 1778. The watch features a fusee cylinder movement signed 'Justin Vulliamy, London' with date code CCO, a pierced engraved balance cock, diamond endstone, silvered regulating dial, and square baluster pillars. The white enamelled dial is fitted with Roman numerals, an outer Arabic minute chapter, and blued steel beetle and poker hands. According to the cataloguer, the watch consists of a plain inner case and a chased and engraved outer case marked by casemaker Laura Aveline ('LA') of Soho, London, measuring 47 mm.

Front view of the Justin Vulliamy gold pair cased pocket watch showing the white enamel dial and blued steel hands.
Front view of the Justin Vulliamy gold pair cased pocket watch showing the white enamel dial and blued steel hands. — Gardiner Houlgate. Rights pending — permission not yet requested. Original source

Catalogue identity

Source
www.watch-auctions.co.uk
Category
Pocket watch · Pair cased pocket watch
Maker / attribution
Justin Vulliamy
Reference
Not recorded
Catalogue / lot identifier
395
Source-reported date
1778
Country
United Kingdom

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

Dial and Visual Appearance

Direct visual inspection reveals a white enamel dial marked with radial black Roman numerals for the hours and an outer chapter of Arabic numerals recording minutes at five-minute intervals. Time is indicated by a pair of central blued steel beetle and poker hands.

The surrounding case displays a yellow gold or gold-coloured rounded profile. A tall pendant neck and stirrup-shaped bow are mounted at the top, while a small case release button is positioned along the lower rim.

Evidence for this section
  • “White enamel dial with black Roman hour numerals and an outer Arabic minute ring marked in five-minute intervals.”
  • “Central blued steel beetle and poker hands.”
  • “Yellow gold or gold-coloured rounded case with a tall pendant neck and stirrup-shaped bow.”
  • “Case release button visible at the bottom edge.”

Case Construction and Casemaker

The cataloguer describes the piece as a pair-cased gold pocket watch measuring 47 mm across, with an aggregate weight of 100.3 gm. The housing consists of a 'plain inner case and chased and engraved outer case'.

The auctioneer attributes the casework to 'case maker 'LA' (Laura Aveline, Soho, London)' and assigns an origin and date of 'London 1778'. However, these marks and the chased decoration on the outer case are not visible in the supplied single dial photograph.

Evidence for this section
  • “plain inner case and chased and engraved outer case”
  • “case maker 'LA' (Laura Aveline, Soho, London)”
  • “London 1778”

Reported Movement and Mechanism

The internal mechanism is not visible in the provided image and relies entirely on the auction description. The listing identifies an 18th-century cylinder mechanism driven by fusee, bearing the inscription 'Justin Vulliamy, London' alongside the date code 'CCO'.

Specific decorative and mechanical appointments cited by the auction house include a 'pierced engraved balance cock, diamond endstone and silvered regulating dial with square baluster pillars'. No operational testing or state of mechanical completeness is documented in the source.

Evidence for this section
  • “the fusee movement signed Justin Vulliamy, London, date code CCO”
  • “pierced engraved balance cock, diamond endstone and silvered regulating dial with square baluster pillars”

Open research questions

  • What specific hallmarks and date letter are stamped inside the inner and outer cases to corroborate the London 1778 date report?
  • What subject matter or ornamental pattern is depicted on the chased and engraved outer case back?
  • Does the fusee cylinder movement retain its original escapement components, chain, and unaltered balance assembly?

Source evidence

Recorded claims and source quotations for Justin Vulliamy Gold Pair Cased Pocket Watch
FieldSource-reported valueSource quotation
Maker SignatureJustin Vulliamy, London“the fusee movement signed Justin Vulliamy, London”
Date CodeCCO“date code CCO”
Origin and DateLondon 1778“London 1778”
Casemaker MarkLA (Laura Aveline, Soho, London)“case maker 'LA' (Laura Aveline, Soho, London)”
Total Weight100.3gm“100.3gm”
Escapement TypeCylinder“18th century cylinder gold pair cased pocket watch”

Visible details

  • White enamel dial with black Roman hour numerals and an outer Arabic minute ring marked in five-minute intervals.
  • Central blued steel beetle and poker hands.
  • Yellow gold or gold-coloured rounded case with a tall pendant neck and stirrup-shaped bow.
  • Case release button visible at the bottom edge.

Research qualifications

  • The movement, inner case markings, and outer case back decoration are not visible in the supplied single dial photograph.
  • Operational condition and mechanical completeness are not documented in the listing.

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

Consulted source

Justin Vulliamy, London - 18th century cylinder gold pair cased pocket watch, London 1778, the fusee movement signed Justin Vulliamy, London, date code CCO, with pierced engraved balance cock, diamond endstone and silvered regulating dial with square baluster pillars, the enamelled dial with Roman numerals, outer Arabic chapter and blued steel beetle and poker hands, plain inner case and chased and engraved outer case, case maker 'LA' (Laura Aveline, Soho, London), 100.3gm, 47mm

Reviewed 2026-10-21 · Record 7d1450309e

Terms in this record

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

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