Pocket Watch: A Superb 1898 Open-faced Silver Dial Fusee Pocket Watch, by Alexander Sharples of Brechin, Scotland

Superb, late Victorian open-faced silver fusee pocket watch, by watchmaker Alexander Sharples, of 28 Bridge Street, Brechin, Forfarshire (Angus), Scotland. Born 1874 in Brechin, Sharples served as an apprentice watchmaker and jewellery hawker for his watchmaking father Joseph Sharples from the age of 15, before relocating to Perth, Scotland in 1891 to complete the final two years of his apprentiship, under master watchmaker Joseph Small. On completion, Sharples returned to Brechin as a certified watchmaker, eventually taking over the Bridge Street family business from his father in c1895, when he would have been just 21-22 years of age. Hallmarked Chester 1898, the watch has a silver dial with machine turned Moiré pattern and a subsidiary second’s dial with blued hands, raised Gothic style gold numerals, gold garlanded ring, and hand-crafted gold and silver floral decoration. The ornately decorated silver case has a milled bevel and a lavishly hand-engraved cartouche to the rear. The fusee movement with dust cap and London steel regulating indicator bar, has a bimetallic balance and diamond end stone. The case maker was Thomas Richard Arnott (“T.R.A”) of Chester Street, Coventry and the case and movement serial numbers are the same, “18156.” The watch comes in an executive Pu leather storage / display case with a winding key, together with instructions on how to wind and set the watch time. Note: This watch does not come with a chain or fob. If you require a silver chain/fob from our large stock, please contact us for advice. Payment - We Accept: - Debit / Credit Cards. - Bacs Transfer (Faster Payments). (Our bank details are on our invoices).