Scottish 18 carat gold Victorian pocket watch Circa 1863

Rare English lever escapement pocket watch
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A very solid quality pocket watch, made by Muirhead & Son in Glasgow, Scotland, circa 1863. This watch features an 18 carat gold numbered case with an ornately engraved Victorian design with a central bouquet of roses and wild flowers enclosed within a sweeping rococo scrollwork border against a fine engine turned background. The golden dial features an engraved floral center enclosed by a scalloped border, surrounded by a smooth outer minute and hour track with painted black Roman numeral hour markers and delicate blued steel Breguet fleur-de-lis hands. The numbered, high grade, gilt brass, full plate, key wound movement is equipped with a traditional English lever escapement, a hand engraved balance cock,  a balance wheel with an index regulator, vibrant blued steel screws, protective jewelled pivots and a diamond end stone. The movement plate is hand engraved “Watch Makers to The Queen” and “Buchanan St., Glasgow”.
Case and movement bear matching numbers and the movement is signed.
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Diameter: 42 mm
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Weight: 59 g
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Signed: Muirhead & Son
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Muirhead

James Muirhead was a well known watch and clockmaker in Glasgow, Scotland. Active from 1817 onward, he and his later established firm – James Muirhead & Son and Muirhead & Arthur – produced fine pocket watches, chronometers, and clocks, earning royal appointments and supplying timepieces to the Admiralty and Scottish railways. Master clockmaker and jeweler James Muirhead (born 1795) established his independent watchmaking workshop around 1816–1817. He operated from Buchanan Street, which was rapidly transforming into Glasgow’s premier upscale shopping district and quickly gained respect for producing high-precision, eight day domestic regulator longcase clocks, pocket watches, and marine chronometers.

Around 1848, Muirhead’s exquisite craftsmanship caught the attention of the British monarchy. He was appointed Watchmaker to the Queen (Victoria), a title proudly engraved on subsequent timepieces. The firm expanded beyond personal watches to supply technical marine chronometers to the British Admiralty and standard issue regulatory clocks to the expanding Scottish railway networks.

In 1860, Muirhead brought his son into the business, renaming the firm James Muirhead & Son.