English 18 carat gold duplex escapement watch Circa 1811

Early example of excellent precision watchmaking
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A very fine precision pocket watch with duplex escapement, made by Vulliamy & Sons in England, circa 1811. The case of this watch is crafted from 18 carat gold, featuring an exceptionally heavy construction, is beautifully engraved and engine turned, bears the maker’s mark FC/FHB, still has the original cuvette and displays a noble coat of arms on the back. The white enamel dial features an outer scale with Arabic five minute numerals, Roman hour numerals, an original heart shaped hour hand and a replaced minute hand. The numbered and magnificently engraved movement is fitted with a duplex escapement, a large steel balance with an unusual temperature compensation and a diamond end stone.
The movement is signed.
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Diameter: 58 mm
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Weight: 172 g
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Signed: Vulliamy, London
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The item presented here is an early English precision watch of excellent movement quality with an extremely heavy gold case.
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Vulliamy
The Vulliamy family was a distinguished lineage of watchmakers in London.

François Justin Vulliamy (*1712 in Switzerland – †1797 in England) was a well known watchmaker. In 1730, he emigrated to England and studied watchmaking under Benjamin Gray. He later married Gray’s daughter Mary and worked with him in his watch manufactory in London’s Pall Mall.
His son Benjamin Vulliamy (1747-1811) also became a watchmaker and took over the professional management of the Vulliamy & Sons watch manufactory from 1775.
Around 1801, Benjamin Vulliamy took on his son Benjamin Lewis (1780 – 1854) as a partner.
They sold mainly cylinder escapement pocket watches, but increasingly used duplex escapements for their high end pieces.
Benjamin Lewis Vuillamy’s stature in the horological world was such that in 1854, upon his retirement or death, the renowned watchmaker Charles Frodsham succeeded him as the Superintendent and Keeper of Her Majesty’s Clocks at Buckingham Palace.

The Vulliamy family’s legacy is one of high craftsmanship and innovation, with their timepieces being prized by collectors and found in museums and royal collections today.