English extremely small and rare gold verge watch Circa 1775

Extremely small and rare gold pair cased verge watch
–
An English extremely small and rare gold pair cased verge watch, circa 1775, gilded full plate movement, verge escapement, decoratively pierced and engraved masked balance cock with symmetric scrollwork across the four quadrants, gold flat balance, fusee and chain, cylindrical pillars, signed W S Ward, London.
White enamel dial, Roman numerals, outer minute ring, gold hands.
Plain gold inner case, the back with winding aperture, stirrup bow and pendant,  plain gold outer, both cases with maker’s mark MR incuse for Mary Reasey.
–
Diameter: 21 mm
–
Signed: W S Ward London
–
Although some very small English watch movements were made in the period from 1760-1780, most were intended to fit objects such as rings or fans. It is extremely rare to find such a small movement fitted into a pair cased watch. Perfectly proportioned, the case and dial are miniaturized versions of standard pair cased watches of the period. The movement has some unusual features, including a gold balance which, being heavier than brass or steel, was almost certainly included to improve the watch’s performance. The contrate wheel is in effect rimless with the teeth cut vertically and the fusee has just three turns.

Walter Stacy Ward was the son of silversmith Michael Ward and was apprenticed to Thomas Griffing. Few watches signed by Walter are known. The cases of this watch have the mark of Mary Reasey. It was rare for women to register their own mark. Mary, whose mark was registered in March 1773, is thought to be the widow of James.