Pocket watch · Verge pair cased pocket watch

Sims & Son Painted Dial Silver Pair Cased Verge Pocket Watch

Partially verified

This English pair cased verge pocket watch is reported by the source as signed by Sims & Son, London, and bears London hallmarks for 1800. Measuring 56 mm in diameter, the timepiece is cased in plain silver with an integral pendant and round bow. The polychrome enamel dial features an eccentric rural narrative scene, incorporating a miniature Roman numeral chapter ring set within a church clock tower. Two men are shown shaking hands along a churchyard path beside gravestones, while a windmill sits beside a river in the distance.

Dial view of the Sims & Son silver pair cased verge pocket watch with painted churchyard and windmill scene — Watch Museum. Rights pending — permission not yet requested. Original source

Catalogue identity

Source: watchmuseum.org
Category: Pocket watch · Verge pair cased pocket watch
Maker / attribution: Sims & Son
Reference: Not recorded
Catalogue / lot identifier: Source URL identifies the listing
Source-reported date: 1800
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 Composition and Rural Scene

The timepiece features a polychrome enamel dial painted with an eccentric rural scene rather than a conventional centered display. Time is indicated on a miniature chapter of Roman numerals set directly onto the clock tower of a church in the foreground, with blued steel hands visible over the tower face.

The surrounding pictorial scene depicts two gentlemen shaking hands along a path flanked by gravestones, with a windmill positioned next to a river in the background. The seller notes that while similar rustic compositions often included automated windmill sails driven by an extended arbor from a contrate wheel or seconds arbor, this dial was never drilled for an extended arbor, though the windmill is situated above the contrate wheel pivot.

Evidence for this section

“It features a small chapter of Roman numerals on a ⁤church's clock tower”
“two gentlemen shake hands‌ on a path flanked by gravestones, with ⁢a windmill and serene river in the distance”
“dial has never been drilled for an extended arbor”
“windmill situated above the contrate wheel pivot”

Reported Movement and Mechanical Configuration

According to the source description, the movement is a full plate fire-gilt fusee verge caliber constructed with turned pillars. The backplate decorative finish is reported to feature a pierced and engraved masked balance cock, an engraved foot, and an engraved plate for a silver regulator disc.

The escapement assembly is reported to comprise a plain three-arm steel balance and a blue steel spiral hairspring. Additionally, the seller records the presence of a lateral steel stop lever, noted as an unusual feature for a pocket watch without a seconds hand.

Evidence for this section

“full plate fire gilt fusee movement with turned pillars”
“pierced and engraved masked cock, as well as an engraved foot and plate for the silver regulator disc”
“plain three-arm steel balance and a blue steel spiral hairspring”
“lateral steel stop lever—a rare feature for watches without seconds”

Casing and Documentation Limitations

The watch is housed in matching plain silver pair cases accompanied by a silver pendant and round bow, with an overall diameter stated at 56 mm. The seller catalogs the piece as signed 'Sims & Son London' and hallmarked for London, 1800.

Direct visual verification from the single provided photograph is limited to the assembled dial and the exterior polished silver case and bow. Internal hallmark stamps, maker signatures, and the described fusee movement details are not visible in the image and rely on dealer catalog statements.

Evidence for this section

“Signed Sims & Son London”
“Hallmarked London 1800”
“Diameter 56 mm”
“matching plain silver cases, complete with a silver pendant⁢ and bow”
“Polished silver round case with pendant and round bow visible.”

Open research questions

What specific hallmark punches (date letter, leopard's head, duty mark, and case maker mark) are struck inside the inner and outer silver cases?
How is the signature of Sims & Son styled across the backplate, and does the movement record a serial number?
How does the reported lateral steel stop lever mechanically act upon the verge escapement or train?

Source evidence

Recorded claims and source quotations for Sims & Son Painted Dial Silver Pair Cased Verge Pocket Watch
Field	Source-reported value	Source quotation
Maker Signature	Sims & Son London	“Signed Sims & Son London”
Hallmark Date and Location	London 1800	“Hallmarked London 1800”
Diameter	56 mm	“Diameter 56 mm”
Movement Construction	Full plate fire gilt fusee movement	“full plate fire gilt fusee movement”

Visible details

Polychrome enamel dial depicting a rural scene with a church, windmill, river, and two men shaking hands near gravestones.
Eccentric miniature time display with Roman numerals situated on the church tower face.
Blued steel hands mounted over the tower dial.
Polished silver round case with pendant and round bow visible.

Research qualifications

Movement and interior case hallmarks are not visible in the provided photograph; details rely on the source description.
Mention of earlier unrelated photos in external databases does not affect this specific verified image.

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

Consulted source

PAINTED DIAL SILVER PAIR CASED VERGE - 1800 » Watch Museum: Discover The World Of Antique & Vintage Pocket Watches

Reviewed 2026-10-21 · Record 775b308f0e

Terms in this record

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