Rare English silver and shagreen pair cased verge Circa 1670

Silver pre-balance spring verge in pair cases
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A highly unusual and extremely rare English silver pair cased verge pocket watch, circa 1670. Fire-gilt full plate movement, elongated floral engraved balance cock and foot, worm and wheel set-up, fusee and chain, unusual decorative pierced pillars. Silver dial with asymmetrically placed Roman hour numerals, matte gilt centre with a short hour hand, outer silver date ring with a revolving pointer on a narrow gilt band. Plain polished inner case, the back with shuttered winding aperture, the outer case with shagreen covering and decorative silver piqué work with a pattern of rosettes.
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Diameter: 52 mm
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Signed: Cornelius Harbert London Bridg
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This watch has an exceptionally rare dial and unusual decoration to the outer case. It is believed that just two other watches are currently known with a similar dial treatment. Cornelius Harbert was born around 1645 and was first apprenticed in April 1659 to Davis Mell, moving to William Grout in February 1660-1661. He was a Freeman in 1667-1668, worked at London Bridge and died sometime after 1705. Harbert took on a number of apprentices although clearly, not all were up to scratch.