VERGE TORTOISESHELL PAIR CASE SILVER POCKET WATCH 1774 Start Price GBP 0.99 Current Price GBP 565.55 Time Left - Bid Count 15 Buy It Now Price - Reserve Price - Start Time Tuesday, November 25, 2008 End Time Friday, December 05, 2008 Location Plymouth, Devon See more about 'VERGE TORTOISESHELL PAIR CASE SILVER POCKET WATCH 1774' Description  This is A Rare George III Pair Cased Silver Open Face Verge Fusee English Pocket Watch With Tortoiseshell Outer Case Decorated With Fern And Butterflies By Wm Tomkins London 1774. The DialBeautiful white enamel curved dial with nicely formed upright black Roman hour numerals and diamond markings at quarter hour intervals.  The dial is in pristine condition but there is a minute scratch between numbers 11 and 12.  Gold spade hour and minute hands.   The bull’s eye crystal is in fine condition with few scratches.The caseThe outer case is gilded with tortoiseshell under painted with fern and butterflies; the painting is very detailed and beautiful with very nice colours.  The tortoiseshell is secured to the outer case by very small pins.  Some of the pins are missing (about 7 or 8) but that is hardly noticeable. The outer case has a big steel hinge in excellent condition and working order surrounded by a gilt rim which goes around the case and around the front and gives the whole outer case a beautiful look and contrast.  There are two slight defects to the outer case:  first, there is a small piece of the tortoiseshell is missing on the top on the right side of where the pendent sits.  The size of the missing piece is 18mm approx in length and 3mm approx in width; please see picture number 2.  The second is that the button to release the front rim or bezel is worn, so to open the front cover you have to use your finger or a little knife. Apart from those two things the case is in excellent condition: it opens and clicks shut easily and the gilt is in excellent condition too.  A really special feature of this watch is that there is the original piece of hand-embroidered cloth inside the case with a flower design on it to protect the silver watch case from touching the outer gilted case. The outer under painted tortoiseshell case measures 50.5 mm approx.The solid silver watchcase is hallmarked for London 1774 with crown leopard’s head and the gothic letter ‘T’.  It has plain back cover with one hole for winding.  The case condition is excellent without wear or dents with a tight hinge and catches working well, bow and pendent are in excellent condition.The movementEnglish mercury gilded movement is numbered ‘420’and signed ‘William Tomkins, London’. The maker’s name is in ‘Britten’s Old Clocks & Watches And Their Makers’.  The gilt full plate verge has square baluster pillars.  The movement has a verge escapement with fusee.  The balance cock is beautifully pierced and engraved with floral design, and an angry looking bird in the bottom.  The cock is secured with a large blued steel screw. The rest of the movement is engraved too with floral design.  The regulator is a tompion silver disc; you turn it either direction to regulate the time.  The condition of the movement is remarkable and fine and the gilding is in pristine condition.  The mechanical condition is exceptional.  The movement has been completely cleaned and serviced and is excellent working order and keeps an excellent time for a verge, it is gaining four minutes per day approx.  The diameter of the watch is 41.5 mm approx not including the pendent.  It comes with an old cylinder shaped brass key.  This is a rare example of a fine quality English George III period verge pocket watch that is nearly 234 years old in excellent working order and keeping very good time. This special item is a real piece of history.All postage within the UK is Royal Mail next day special delivery £7.00 (insured up to £2000).I am happy to post worldwide including all US states, Europe and the rest of the world for £10 but damage/loss in the post cannot be insured against in some countries outside Europe and so the item is sent at the buyer’s risk.Please ensure you pay for the item within three days of purchase or it will be reported as not paid for and relisted.Returns policy: item will only be accepted for return if any perceived problem is reported immediately (within 24 hours of arrival) and the item is returned straight away.  Please read the description carefully to avoid disappointment. Please look at my other items. Thank you Place a Bid!