English silver pair cased highly complicated verge watch Circa 1690

Silver astronomical watch with eight complications
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A highly complicated pair cased single handed astronomical pocket watch with a fragment of a document made by Torin in London, England, circa 1690. Both cases of this watch are crafted from silver and bear the maker’s mark WW. The gilt dial features a time display at 6 o’clock with Roman hour numerals, half hour markers and a single hand, a solar and lunar calendar with phases of the moon and moon age, an aperture displaying the lengths of day and night, and the months, and further iron hands. The movement is fitted with a verge escapement.
The movement is signed.
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Diameter: 57 mm
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Weight: 153 g
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Signed: Torin London
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Torin
“Torin London” was the signature used by a watchmaker whose work is documented in the late 17^th century, likely from around 1675. There is limited biographical information available, and the British Museum lists a later watchmaker named Daniel Torin, who was active in Moorfields, London, from 1721 to 1763. It is unclear if there is a direct family or business relationship between the two.
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The Torin listed in the late 17th century was active around the time the balance spring was introduced into watchmaking, circa 1675. A movement from his hand is noted for having one of the earliest balance spring regulating systems, specifically, a very small regulator dial held by a blued steel arm, similar to that of the Tompion regulator system introduced in England around the same time. Watches with the signature “Torin London” are described as having early verge fusee movements, which was the standard mechanism of the era. Surviving examples can feature complications like date indication and champlevé silver dials with engraved numbers. The movements often have vase shaped pillars and decorative elements, such as a pendulum designed as Cupid.
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Daniel Torin
Daniel Torin was active from 1721 to 1763, working from Moorfields, London. He appears in trade directories and is documented in horological literature like “Watchmakers and Clockmakers of the World” by Brian Loomes.
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Due to the common practice of the time, especially in later periods, the name on the movement plate might have been a retailer’s name rather than the specific maker of all components. However, the early examples attributed to the period from the 1670s to the 1690s are recognized in horological circles as significant due to their incorporation of early technical innovations like the balance spring regulator.