Anonymous

• Movement: later custom made gilded full plate, verge escapement, plain flat three-arm balance decoratively pierced and engraved masked balance cock, fusee and chain • movement signed David Hubert, London 1821
• Dial: gold, decorated with cloisonné and champlevé enamel flowers and leaves in colours of blue, green, orange, turquoise, the dark spikes painted on, all against a white background, gold chapter ring with black enamel Roman numerals, the inner border to cover and case decorated with translucent green enamel over an engraved ground, blued steel double ended floriate hand
• Case: gold and faceted rock crystal, the bezels and pendant decorated with opaque white and turquoise enamel • silver-gilt octagonal faceted outer case, further outer leather covered protective case lined with green velvet

Terence Camerer Cuss, The English Watch 1585-1970, 2009, pp. 60-61, pl. 23

Movement running at time of cataloguing. Enamel dial is attractive with vibrant colours, small chip to the centre above the numeral at 4 o'clock, further small chip and hair line towards the edge of the dial above 1 o'clock, some minor losses to the black enamel highlights and some other small/minor chips to the leaves/flowers. Pendant with some small chips to the enamel, bezels also with a few minor chips. Rock crystal covers in good overall condition with light scuffs. Clasp to rock crystal cover is slightly loose. Outer silver gilt case in good condition with some light sucffs, Leather protective case with some rubbing
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. All dimensions in catalogue descriptions are approximate. Condition reports may not specify mechanical replacements or imperfections to the movement, case, dial, pendulum, separate base(s) or dome. Watches in water-resistant cases have been opened to examine movements but no warranties are made that the watches are currently water-resistant. Please note that we do not guarantee the authenticity of any individual component parts, such as wheels, hands, crowns, crystals, screws, bracelets and leather bands, since subsequent repairs and restoration work may have resulted in the replacement of original parts. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue. In particular, please note it is the purchaser's responsibility to comply with any applicable import and export matters, particularly in relation to lots incorporating materials from endangered species.NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

**Please be advised that bands made of materials derived from endangered or otherwise protected species (i.e. alligator and crocodile) are not sold with the watches and are for display purposes only. We reserve the right to remove these bands prior to shipping."

Few enamel cased watches have survived from this period, and a proportionately high number of extant examples have had their original movements removed or, as in this instance, replaced. The movement of this watch was custom made by the 18th century maker David Hubert, and designed to work as a single-handed movement. The original octagonal dial plate has been retained and some effort has clearly been made to
compliment the original movement style.

An oval rock crystal watch by John Ramsay, with very similar enamel decoration to the present watch, can be found in the collection of the Worshipful Company of Clockmakers,
displayed at the Science Museum in London.

David Hubert was an eminent London watchmaker of the 18th century. He was a Freeman of the Clockmakers’ Company in 1714 and was subsequently made Master in 1743. Examples of his watches are found in the Science Museum, London and in
the Dennison Collection.