George Graham, London

• Movement: gilded full plate, cylinder escapement, decoratively pierced balance cock engraved with foliage and grotesque mask at the neck, flat balance, diamond endstone, fusee and chain, Egyptian pillars, signed and numbered Geo. Graham, London, 5775, gilt metal dust cap similarly signed and scratch numbered to the underside 5775
• Dial: silver champlevé, Roman numerals, outer Arabic minute ring, blued steel beetle and poker hands, steel centre seconds hand
• Cases: plain silver inner, stop slide beneath the bezel at 9 o'clock and with engraved S to the bezel above, the back with shuttered winding aperture, inner case numbered 5775 • plain silver outer case, both cases with maker's mark IW beneath a star incuse for John Ward 

Sotheby's London, 31st July 1981, lot 80

Terence Camerer Cuss, The English Watch 1585-1970, 2009, p. 189, pl. 102

Movement appears complete and will just run for very short periods. Dial has been refreshed and there are scuffs and light scratches. Cases with light scuffs, some small splits to the edge of the front of the hinge to the outer case.
"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."

A limited number of watches were produced with centre seconds during the first half of the 18^th century and Graham appears to have made most of them. The hour and minute hands have been blued in the usual manner whilst the centre seconds hand has been left polished to provide contrast. A start/stop lever below the bezel of the inner case operates a ‘whip’ which is mounted between the plates and acts on the outer circumference of the cylinder.

George Graham (1674-1751) was one of England's most renowned clock and watchmakers. He served his apprenticeship with Henry Aske in 1688 and then entered the service of Thomas Tompion as a journeyman in 1695. Graham married one of Tompion's nieces and became his partner in 1704, succeeding to the business on Tompion's death in 1713. He was elected a fellow of the Royal Society in 1721 and Master of the Clockmakers' Company in 1722. It is believed that he improved or perhaps invented the cylinder escapement. He used the verge escapement up to 1726 and then predominantly the cylinder thereafter. On his death in 1751, as a sign of the great respect in which he was held, Tompion's grave in Westminster Abbey was opened to receive the body of his former partner.