Antique Silver Ottoman Triple-Case Verge Fusee Pocket Watch. G. Prior, London, 1782

Antique triple-case verge fusee poket watch, made in London in 1782 by George Prior for the Ottoman market. This fine watch is a simple and elegant piece, in very good condition and working order. The dial and the movement are signed George Prior, London, S/N 2779, and the silver case was made by John Bingley, Little Britain Street, London. The outer case is silver with pique work and is covered with ttshll. The second case is also silver. The hallmarks on the outer case are the Lion Guardant for Sterling, the London Assay Office with leopard wearing a crown and the date letter mark of a lower case g indicating 1782. The two parts of the outer case fit together and snap into place. The inner case is also sterling-silver with long stemmed pendant and bow placed at the twelve-position relative to the dial.The interior of the case contains the engraved initials I B with no surrounding cameo. This mark indicates the work of metalsmith and casemaker John Bingley, Little Britain Street, London. He was working at that location by 1763 and still listed on that street in 1774 and this case indicates he was still working there in 1782The white enameled dial is enclosed within a polished and fluted silver bezel. It has Islamic hours, half-hour markers and closed dotted minute ring with Turkish five-minutes markers around the circumference of the dial.There are steel Beetle and Poker hands. The dial is marked for George Prior, London. The watch has is a verge escapement with its contrate wheel and chain-driven fusee movement. The plates are separated by rarely seen tulip-crested pillars, a type of hybrid brass pillar using a pierced cresting, dating to early 18th century designs. Adjacent to the pillar is the decorative brass open pierced fret in a foliate design that is seen closer to the dating of this watch (1782).There is a single key winding arbor for winding the fusee spring. The back plate has a pierced interlocking foliate, lace-edged round balance bridge with an engraving near the foot that resembles a winged bat and a central rosette on the balance bridge. The interlocking foliate form appears to suggest two initials, which has also been found on some of the balance cocks on English early movements. There is step-down foot which equals the width of the balance cock and it is engraved in the same manner as the open pierced fretwork on the balance bridge. Adjacent is the silver Turkish marked regulator for making the movement run faster or slower. This plate is engraved in Islamic script, the watchmaker's name, with the serial number of 2779.This antique triple-case verge fusee pocket watch, made for the Turkish market and in working order, is worthy to belong to the most demanding collector.Medidas: Caja Exterior: 72 mm. Caja Interior: 60 mm. Reloj: 48 mm.