Early English one-handed oval verge pendant watch Circa 1625

Gilt metal and silver oval verge by Mathew Day
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An exceptional English oval silver and gilt metal verge pendant watch, circa 1625. The watch features a gilded full plate oval movement with beautifully engraved details, a verge escapement, and a plain flat steel balance. It also includes a pierced and floral engraved pinned-on balance cock, wheel and click set-up with similarly decorated cock, fusee and gut line, pierced Egyptian pillars, and is signed Mathew Day Fecit. The silver dial boasts a chapter ring with Roman numerals and half-hour divisions, and a centre engraving of a soldier holding a pike aloft, surrounded by scrolling flowers and foliage. The outer border features a winged cherub above 12 o’clock, with a turned-blued steel hand. The silver oval case is intricately engraved with a winged figure of Mercury on the front cover and a classical warrior on the case back, both within oval borders. The winding aperture is covered by a gilded scallop-form cover, and the inside front cover is adorned with a wreath. The silver band is engraved with scrolling flowers and foliage, and the watch is finished with gilded mounts and a trefoil pendant.
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Length including pendant: 53.5 mm
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Width: 29.5 mm.
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Signed: Mathew Day Fecit
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The watch cover features an exquisite engraving of the winged figure of Mercury, also known as Hermes to the Greeks, who was revered as the patron of travellers. This choice of decoration is fitting for a portable timepiece. Matthew Day, hailing from Saffron Walden near Cambridge is listed by both Baillie and Loomes as the skilled craftsman behind this watch. A similarly designed case with different scenes can be found in the collections of the British Museum, and it features a movement signed by John Lampard fecit.
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The watch is in good overall condition with some light scuffs and scratches. The case is handsome, but it does have some light scuffs and scratches, as well as tarnishing and wear to the gilding, especially on the pendant. Currently, the movement is not running, but it does appear to be complete. It’s worth noting that three of the pillars are missing their securing pins to the backplate, and there are two very small blank holes just to the side of the balance cock.