Pocket Watch: very fine Vulliamy London precision pocket watch with duplex escapement, Hallmarks London 1811

Ca. Ø58mm, ca. 172g, original 18K pink gold case, extremely heavy construction, magnificently engraved and engine turned, maker's mark FC/FHB, noble coat of arms on the back, original dome, very rare and very fine calibre, duplex escapement, large steel balance with rare temperature compensation, diamond endstone, magnificent movement engraving, signed Vulliamy rmz London, original enamel dial (small imperfections in the rim area), original heart-shaped hour hand, replaced minute hand, intact and in good condition. This is an early English precision watch of excellent movement quality with an extremely heavy gold case. The Vulliamy's were a distinguished family of watchmakers in London. Justin Vulliamy (*1712 in Switzerland; †1797 in England) was a well-known watchmaker. In 1730 he emigrated to England and studied watchmaking under Benjamin Gray. He later married Gray's daughter Mary and worked with him in his watch manufactory in London's Pall Mall. His son Benjamin Vulliamy (1747-1811) also became a watchmaker and took over the professional management of the Vulliamy & Sons watch manufactory from 1775. Around 1801, Benjamin Vulliamy took on his son Benjamin Lewis as a partner. They sold mainly cylinder escapement pocket watches, but increasingly used duplex escapements for their high-end pieces.