English 18 carat gold and enamel pocket watch Circa 1780

Verge watch with blue and white enamel case
–
A very fine, large gold and enamel verge watch, made by James Staples in Odiham, England. circa 1780. This watch features a high quality 18 carat gold case with a London gold hallmark and a beautiful blue and white enamelled case back. The enamel dial features an outer minute and hour track with Arabic hour numerals and the original gold arrow hands. The numbered movement is equipped with a verge escapement.
The movement is signed.
–
Diameter: 48 mm
–
Weight: 85 g
–
Signed: James Staples Odiham
–
Staples
James Staples was an active and respected English watch and clockmaker operating during the late 18^th century. While his specific personal biography remains sparse in surviving historical guild records compared to mega firms of the era, his extant work places him securely within the “Golden Age” of British watchmaking. During the late 18^th century, English watchmaking workshops of this scale were built entirely around the personal reputation, Guild licenses and individual master assembling skills of the owner and dissolved upon their demise.