English silver verge with engraved Julian calendar Circa 1650

Silver verge watch with engraved Julian calendar
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A fine English silver verge watch with engraved Julian calendar, circa 1650, gilded full plate movement, verge escapement, decoratively pierced and engraved pinned on balance cock, flat balance, worm and wheel set-up, fusee and gut line, Egyptian pillars, signed Tho. Alcock Fecit.
Silver dial, the centre with engraved floral decoration, Roman numerals with quarter-hour divisions beneath, the outer border with decorative engraved roundels, blued steel floriated hand.
Plain silver case, the inside cover engraved with Julian calendar, case back with shuttered winding aperture and stud to the base for securing the watch in an outer case (now lacking).
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Diameter: 42mm
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Signed: Tho. Alcock Fecit
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To the inside of the watch’s lid is an engraved perpetual calendar. Across the top of the grid are the Dominical letters G F E D C B A, which, in conjunction with the two rows of numerals beneath, allow the calculation of the calendar for any given year in the Julian Calendar, the days of the month being marked on the lower five rows of the calendar grid, marked from 1-31.

Made at the end of Thomas Alcock’s life, this watch dates to the beginning of the Commonwealth period. By this period, circular watches had become the preferred style, and sizes were beginning to increase. Thomas Alcock was active by 1630 and entered the Clockmakers’ Company in 1632, becoming Assistant in 1638 and Warden from 1645-1646. The Prerogative Court of Canterbury shows that his will was proved on 26^th April 1650.