English repousse silver antique pocket watch - c1783

This is a very fine English silver Repousse verge antique pocket watch, dating from 1783 - it really is a stunning piece. The watch is in superb condition for a piece dating back 200 years and is in full working order. It was difficult to photograph and is more impressive in reality. The watch comes from our watchmaker's private collection and is very special. It was made by hand [no machinery in those days] by a watchmaker called J Best of London and is of course a one-off watch as there was no mass production in those days. Watches took a long time to create and very few people could afford to buy them. It dates well before the first Swiss watchmakers, to a time when the English lead the way in watchmaking.

The watch is paircased [this means that the watch itself sits in an outer case] and the Repousse silver outer case is original to the watch. The watch itself features a silver case, an excellent original dial, original bullseye lens, original fancy gold hands and a very clean chain-driven verge fusee movement. The movement has just been cleaned and oiled by a my watchmaker and is in very good working order for a watch of this age. The watch comes with a key for winding and setting and a new presentation box for wrapping as a very special present. If you are looking for a certain financial investment, this is it. Fewer and fewer pocket watches from this early era are coming to the market and their value will only rise. If you are buying the watch as a beginner to antique pocket watches, please call me after receiving it so that we can explain how to handle and operate it.

Our asking price is below the true value of the watch. Such is the high quality of the watch, we will include a six month written guarantee on the movement, which is long enough for you to assess the working order. Also, we offer a full refund if you are not entirely happy, as long as the watch is returned in the same condition. Please feel free to view the watch in central London.

The Repousse outer case is made of silver and is just stunning. It is in very good condition for its age, with the hinge in good order. The original papers are still inside the back of the case. It measures 51mm wide. Repousse is the ancient art of embossing or pressing shapes into metal to create a design. This process has been used for thousands of years to make everything from jewellery to religious icons. It's almost a lost art nowadays.

The case of the watch itself is also silver and also is in very good condition. It measures approximately 42mm wide x 65mm high, including the stem and bow. The stem and bow are in good condition. The case opens on a hinge and the dial/movement swings out on a hinge, with this action working correctly. The inside back of the case carries clear London hallmarks, dating to 1783.

The original, unrestored dial is in superb bright condition - as near to mint as you will find for a watch dating back over 200 years. The original fancy gold hands are in excellent unbent condition, and the original 'bullseye' lens is very clear, with no significant wear - amazing for a watch of this age.

The original key-wound verge fusee movement [chain-driven] is in excellent, bright condition, and beautifully decorated. It is signed 'J Best', 'London' and '4061'. The movement has just been cleaned by our watchmaker [who specialises in early pocket watches] and is in good working order for its age. Keys will be provided for winding and for setting the hands.

A superb collection-standard antique pocket watch; full of charm and history. Will provide an excellent financial investment as well as a possession to enjoy.