Sep 02 2016
Benson, London, verge fusee pocket watch, 49mm, original silver pair cases, 1770
Posted by in benson
Benson, London, verge fusee pocket watch, 49mm, original silver pair cases, 1770. Original dial, bow & pendant, later hands, ticking well. Benson, London (several listings), early verge fusee pocket watch in original silver pair cases bearing London hallmarks for 1770, case-makers incuse mark GH for Gyles Hooper at Gravel Street, Hatton Garden, whose mark was entered on October 27, 1763, baluster pillars, key-wind, key-set, original white enamel dial, later gilt hands, verge escapement, gilt movement with pierced & engraved foliate scrolled balance cock, s#7731. Among the Bensons listed in this period are William or George, both of whom we know about through advertisements for lost watches in 1771 and 1786 respectively. Condition: Examined by yours truly, a specialist in antique watches since 1971. Runs well for briefly or longer in any position and then stops, needs overhaul, shows good escapement function while operating in spite of limited clearance below the cock, has replaced cock-foot screw requiring considerable torque to bring tight. One pillar-top, concealed beneath the balance cock, has sheared off along the plane of the through-pin, so someone filed a deep notch in the plate to allow a new taper-pin to be installed beneath the original. Plates otherwise show excellent gilding, with some light oxide on steel components. Dial has some clean repairs to edge chips from 4:30 to 7, scratches across the 1 numeral, no hairlines. Hands are fine condition replacements, mismatched, 19. The original outer case shows medium wear, very light scratches, a few light dents of dings. Button latch is good, the button worn flush. The original inner case shows less wear, hardly any dents or dings but some distortion at the pendant base which has now been soldered. Bow is secure but the through-hole of the pendant has considerable play from wear; good high domed bulls-eye glass crystal. Please note my order of grading terms – Pristine – Mint – Excellent – Fine – Fair – Poor. The item “Benson, London, verge fusee pocket watch, 49mm, original silver pair cases, 1770″ is in sale since Sunday, August 28, 2016. This item is in the category “Jewelry & Watches\Watches, Parts & Accessories\Pocket Watches\Antique”. The seller is “watchperson” and is located in Milford, New Hampshire. This item can be shipped worldwide.
- Year of Manufacture: Pre-1800
- Brand: Benson, London
- Escapement Type: Verge
- Movement: Mechanical (Hand-winding)
- Country/Region of Manufacture: United Kingdom
- Case material: Silver