English 18K gold pair cased verge pocket watch Circa 1791

Open faced pocket watch by Francis Atkins
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A rare English pair cased verge pocket watch, circa 1791.
This rare watch has two cases: outer case – 18 carat gold, florally engraved and monogrammed, à goutte, large lateral hinge, case maker’s punch mark “TW”; inner case – 18 carat gold, polished, case maker’s punch mark “TW”. The dial is white enamel with radial Roman hours and gold spade hands. And the full plate movement is keywind, firegilt and signed, with chain/fusee, solid circular movement pillars, three-arm steel balance, very finely florally engraved pierced balance cock and chatoned diamond endstone on balance.
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Diameter: 49 mm
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Weight: 114 g
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Signed: Francis Atkins, London
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Francis Atkins, English watchmaker
Francis Atkins was born in 1730. He was trained as a watchmaker from 1746 by Joshua Hassel. He became a member of the Clockmakers Company in 1759 and became a master in 1780. In 1785 he was the “clerk” (secretary) of the Clockmakers Company. Francis was based at 35 Clements Lane in London. From around 1780 he worked with his son George Atkins (1767-1855) in the company Aktins & Son.
Francis Atkins died in 1809.