English silver and rock crystal scallop form verge watch Circa 1640

Silver and rock crystal pendant watch by David Bouquet
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An English silver and rock crystal scallop form verge watch, circa 1640. This watch features a gilded full plate movement, signed D Bouquet At London, with verge escapement, decoratively pierced and engraved screwed on silver balance cock and irregular foot with an angel at the neck, plain flat steel balance, worm and wheel setup with silver indication plate, Egyptian pillars, and fusee and gut line. The silver dial displays Roman numerals and quarterhour divisions, with the centre engraved with a castle and a river in the foreground. It has a turned gilded floral form hand and an engraved gilt metal border.
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The case is adorned with engraved silver bezels and rock crystal covers in a scalloped form with radiating facets, a shaped pendant, and a turned terminal.
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Length including terminal: 42.5 mm
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Width: 30 mm
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Signed: D Bouquet At London
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The dial has minor scuffs and scratches, with one locating tag missing from the lower left side. There is an outward dent on the dial just above the 4 o’clock position. The case shows light scuffs, scratches, and slight rubbing on the silver mounts. The movement is running smoothly, with a noticeable depth between the case back and the movement.
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David Bouquet, a French Huguenot émigré, was initially part of the Blacksmiths’ Company and joined the Clockmakers’ Company as a Free Brother in October 1632. His son, Solomon, was one of his apprentices and gained his freedom in December 1651. Renowned for his craftsmanship, David Bouquet worked in Blackfriars until 1662 and passed away in 1665, just a year before the Great Fire of London.

In the 17th century, owners of watches crafted by David Bouquet seemed to frequently lose them. Britten’s “Old Clocks and Watches and Their Makers” notes three such losses reported in the London Gazette. One advertisement from January 10, 1680, reads: Lost lately a steel watch, finely cut, and the work of it made by Bouquet, in a black shagreen case. Whoever hath found the same, if they bring it to Mr. Michael Scrimpshire, Goldsmith, at the sign of the Golden Lyon in Fleet St., shall have 20s reward.