English gold enamel pocket watch with open face Circa 1797

Beautiful gold pocket watch by John Holmes
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A stunning English gold enamel pocket watch with a double case that requires manual winding, circa 1797.
This timepiece boasts a gilt movement with a verge escapement. Its white enamel dial features Roman radial hours, an outer minutes track with Arabic five-minute numerals and gold open cathedral hands. It has two gold cases: a plain polished inner case and a blue translucent enamel outer case. Signed on movement: John Holmes/7212/ Strand London.
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Diameter: 51 mm
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Signed: John Holmes London
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The hallmarks on both cases indicate that they were made in London in 1797. These hallmarks include a lion passant, a leopard’s head crowned, the letter B within a shield (which was used between 1797 and 1798), a king’s head facing right, and the letters I P. All of these marks can be found on the inside of the back of both the inner and outer case.