English verge in silver and tortoiseshell pair cases Circa 1695

Rare silver and tortoiseshell verge
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A rare English verge in fine silver and tortoiseshell pair cases, circa 1695. Deep full plate fire gilt movement with elaborately pierced and engraved pillars. Fusee and chain with worm and wheel barrel setup between the plates. Pierced and engraved winged cock with mask, pierced and engraved foot. Plain steel balance, silver regulator disc. Signed silver champlevé dial with Roman and Arabic numerals, blue steel beetle and poker hands. Plain silver inner case with split bezel, large central circular shutter to the winding aperture, silver pendant, and stirrup bow. Fine outer case covered in tortoiseshell which is inlaid in a decorative foliate design with engraved silver and mother of pearl. The front bezel covered in tortoiseshell and similarly decorated. Silver bezels and square seven joint hinge.
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Diameter: 59 mm
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Depth: 19 mm
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Signed: Mich Johnson London
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An impressive watch. The decorative work on the outer case is unusually extravagant and is in extremely fine condition. Mother of pearl is a delicate material, seldom used on watch cases. It is very rare to find cases employing this technique in reasonable order, this one has survived almost undamaged. Michael Johnson London and Barnard Castle 1687 – 1704.