English silver and gilded brass verge pocket watch Circa 1625

Gilt-brass pocket watch by James Vautrollier
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An English gilt-brass and silver one-handed verge pocket watch, circa 1620-1625. This antique watch has a gilded brass and steel movement, featuring a verge escapement and floral engravings on the cock. The dial plate is engraved with a depiction of the child Jesus and Mary, surrounded by a silvered chapter ring with Roman numerals and half-hour markers. The case is made of silver and partly gilded brass. The watch was crafted by James Vautrollier, as indicated by his signature on the back plate of the movement.
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The decorative border on the back plate of the watch movement is a typical feature of English watches from the early 17th century. Other typical features of that period include pinning the balance’s decorative cock to a tenon that protrudes from the plate and using a steel ratchet and click device to regulate the mainspring. The watch case has an engraving depicting the Adoration of the Magi.
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Diameter: 29 mm
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Signed: James Vautrollier, fecit
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James Vautrollier was an active clockmaker between 1622 and 1641. He was one of the Clockmakers’ Company Charter petitioners in 1622 and became a court assistant after the charter was granted in 1631. Vautrollier was made a Freeman of the Clockmakers’ Company in 1632.