Enamel & solid 18ct gold antique pocket watch - c1770s

Description

Firstly, the gloomy photos don’t come anywhere close to capturing this beautiful antique watch. In reality the watch is in near-mint, crisp, gleaming condition - please come and view the watch if you can; it is simply stunning and will be well worth your visit. If you can’t visit I can assure you that you will be absolutely amazed and thrilled by the watch in reality, or of course you are free to return it for a full refund.

Dating from the 1770s, the watch has been expertly restored to mint antique condition, with no significant wear whatsoever - museum standard. It comes from my watchmakers private collection and as an antique pocket watch specialist he is a very discerning collector indeed. It is certainly the finest early pocket watch I have ever handled. It was made by A. Malte, who was a renowned Maltese casemaker of the era, and features the most stunning solid 18ct gold enamel case you will ever see - just a superb piece of hand craftsmanship from a master casemaker. The enamel scene is in mint, crisp gleaming condition - far better than photographed. The movement is a key-wound verge fusee and is French made. My watchmaker has cleaned the movement and it is in excellent working order for a watch dating back over 230 years. The original porcelain dial is in mint clean condition - bright white in reality - and the solid gold hands are original, as is the crisp 'bullseye' lens. The watch is of course a unique piece and will provide an outstanding financial investment.

You can feel confident buying from me - I offer a full refund if you are not entirely happy, as long as the watch is returned within seven days if UK customer, fourteen days if overseas, in the same condition. I also provide a full receipt, six months guarantee (long enough for you to assess the working order) and a professional insurance valuation. I also welcome you to come and view the watch at our central London address, in the New Bond Street area. I offer my customers online prices - well below value - with offline availability and service.

The solid 18ct gold hand decorated case is a masterpiece of the casemakers art - just beautiful and using more than one colour gold. It is in near-mint, gleaming condition, with no significant wear whatsoever and measures 40.5mm wide x 19.8mm thick x 59.6mm high, including the original gold stem and bow. The watch opens on a hinge and the hinge action is as firm as the day it was made, with no looseness whatsoever. It is not hallmarked, as was the case with most non-English cases of this early era but is guaranteed to be solid 18ct gold or above.

The original porcelain dial is in bright, crisp white condition, with no chips or cracks. The original solid gold hands are in excellent unbent condition, and the original 'bullseye' lens is very clear, with no cracks.

The original French-made verge fusee (chain driven) key-wound movement is in exceptional bright condition, and is signed 'A. Malte’. The movement has just been cleaned and oiled by a master watchmaker and is in very good working order for a watch of this age. Please note that movements dating back over 200 years are unlikely to keep good time.

A superb serious collection-standard antique pocket watch; will provide an excellent financial investment as well as a possession to enjoy and showcase.