English 17th century 22 Carat gold filigree verge watch Circa 1640

17th Century gold filigree watch
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An English 22 Carat verge in a fine filigree gold pair cases with protective outer, circa 1640. Full plate fire gilt movement with turned baluster pillars. Pierced and engraved masked cock, pierced and engraved foot and plate for the silver regulator disc. White enamel dial with Roman and Arabic numerals, fine blue steel beetle and poker hands. 22 Carat gold inner case.
22 Carat gold filigree outer case made from twisted gold wire. Gilt metal protective outer case covered in black leather decorated with gilt pique pins.
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Diameter: 48 mm
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Signed: Con’rs Dunlop London
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The watch would probably have been worn with the filigree case lined in richly coloured silk. The cases originally housed a pre balance spring verge. This has been replaced with a purpose made movement in about 1740 by Conyers Dunlop, an eminent maker of the period. At the same time, a new dial, hands, gold pendant and protective outer case were fitted. The outer was almost certainly a replacement for a plain, pressed leather case that had protected the decorative filigree work for a century. It is unusual for a movement to be replaced in order to extend the life of a watch.