Silver English verge with highly unusual pillars Circa 1714

Verge watch with highly unusual pillars
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A fine silver English pair cased verge watch with highly unusual pillars, circa 1714, gilded full plate movement, verge escapement, decoratively pierced and floral engraved silver masked balance cock, flat steel three-arm balance with spring, highly unusual pillars each faced with a silver crowned portrait bust flanked by the letters ‘GR’ and with gilt fluting above and below, fusee and chain, signed and numbered Ja. Leicester, Strand.
Silver champlevé dial, Roman numerals with half-hour divisions between and to the ring below, outer gilded ring, blued steel beetle and poker hands, the center with two cartouches flanked by a Lion and Unicorn and a crown above, signed Leicester, London.
Plain silver cases, the inner with winding aperture to back and stirrup pendant, each with a decorative monogram to their inside backs reading ‘PNMS’, each with case maker’s mark IW with a coronet above for John Willoughby or Wightman.
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Diameter: 49 mm
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Signed: Ja. Leicester Strand
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Although in many ways typical of the period, this watch is, however, especially notable for its excellent pierced and engraved silver cock and highly unusual movement pillars The pillars have applied masks flanked by the letters G & R, presumably for George Rex. Pillars decorated with crests and monograms are recorded, yet there does not appear to be a record of another watch with pillars of this design.