English plain silver pair cased verge pocket watch Circa 1705

Silver open faced verge watch
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A fine and rare English silver pair cased pocket watch, circa 1705. A polished plain in- and outercase. White enamel dial, radial Roman numerals, outer minute track with five-minute Arabic numerals. Blued steel beetle and poker hands. A gilt full-plate movement with divided Egyptian pillars, fusee and chain, verge escapement, plain brass balance with flat balance spring, single-footed cock with streamers and almost straight foot. Movement signed.
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Diameter: 53 mm
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Signed: Thomas Tompion & Edward Banger  London
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Thomas Tompion (1637-1713) became a brother in the Clockmakers Company in 1671. He made the first clock for the Greenwich Observatory in 1676. Tompion was joined by George Graham in 1695; the following year Graham married Tompion’s niece. From 1701, Tompion was in partnership with Edward Banger. The partnership was broken off in 1707 or 1708. Around 1711, Tompion took George Graham into partnership and so continued until the end of his life. In 1703, Tompion was elected Master of the Clockmakers’ Company. Some time between 1680 and 1685, Tompion started to number his production, being apparently the first maker to do so.