Here we have a Silver Verge & Fusee Pair Case Pocket Watch made personally in the early years of his career by the Famed English James Markwick, Jr. of London (c.1695-1715) Late 17th/Early 18th Century. James Markwick Jr learned the art of clock making from his father, the also quite famed 17th Century clockmaker James Markwick who apprenticed under Edmund Gilpin of the Clockmakers Company, and after marrying Gilpin's only daughter, was freed from the Company in 1666. James Sr quickly rose through the ranks, with the help of his father-in-law, and became one of the wealthiest private clockmakers in London, moving so far ahead in only one generation as to have gone from a runaway-apprentice clockmaker of no means to being given the rent of an Estate by the Crown in 1704 and thereby became a member of the English Gentry, an enormous leap in standing for a man, who became a Gentleman, in the 1660s-90s. In 1692 James Jr, being the second but oldest surviving son of James Sr under whom he had apprenticed, was freed from his own apprenticeship and a few years later around 1696 James Junior was given his father's prosperous shop and trade, quickly making a name of his own in the watchmaking world during the turn of the 18th Century, making some of the finest watches in Europe and far beyond (as many of his watches would be made for the Ottoman Market). James Jr worked in this manner for nearly twenty years until forming a new company with his son-in-law Robert Markham, forming the incomparable and still treasured MARKWICK MARKHAM Watchmaking Company, with which James Jr worked until his death around 1729. Markwick had become such an incredibly respected famed and honored watch maker that even after his death when Robert formed a new alliance, the company became MARKWICK, MARKHAM & PERIGAL, not daring sever their company's connection with the name known round the world, and of course keeping the honor of Robert father-in-law James Jr alive. Robert Markham passed in 1741 and his kin and new partners switched the third name several times, but so great was the skill and memory of James Markwick Jr that his name stayed the first name on the Ledger through a half dozen changes of ownership over the next hundred years.

This is a truly ONE OF A KIND piece made and twice inscribed by James Markwick Jr himself, before Markham came along, and while James was working tirelessly in his father's London shoppe to create the most beautiful watches available. Here we have a Markwick silver key wind pair case pocket watch. Gilt full plate verge & fusée movement, pierced and engraved balance cock, silver regulation, hybrid pillars, silver champlevé dial with black Roman numerals, black outer minute track with outer black Arabic five minute markers, beetle and poker hands, polished inner and outer cases, dial and movement both signed. A truly STUNNING piece. Key still winds but the movement needs a tune up to run smoothly and properly, but everything is there and original. 58mm.

Provenance: Previously Sold via the Exclusive 'Watches & Wristwatches' Sale at Bonhams London.

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Antique and Vintage Jewelry
Antique & Vintage Watches