Sandbanks Antiques has dated this Gold Fusee Pocket Watch to the 19th Century.
IN DOMINI CONFIDO -" In the Lord I put my trust" (or "I trust in the Lord")
Retailer: R. Stewart, Argyle St & Buchanan St, Glasgow
Movement Number: No. 48656
Case Maker: John Woodman (Clerkenwell, London), stamped JW
Period: Late 19th Century
Composition & Weight: Solid 18-karat yellow gold, weighing a substantial 65 grams
Dimensions: Approximately 6 cm from suspension ring to base; 4 cm across dial casing
Description & Royal Provenance
An exceptional, museum-grade British fusee pocket watch, elevated to an investment-tier artifact by its documented royal lineage and custom armorial commission.
The Royal Armorial Provenance: The exterior is meticulously adorned with the polychrome armorials and personal cipher of Captain Augustus John William Henry Kennedy-Erskine, 19th Laird of Dun (1866–1908). As the great grandson of King William IV (through his mother, Lady Augusta FitzClarence, daughter of the King and Dorothea Jordan) and a prominent Scottish landowner holding estates in Forfarshire, Captain Kennedy-Erskine represents the pinnacle of 19th-century Anglo-Scottish aristocracy. This bespoke heraldic commission anchors the watch's identity as a direct personal possession of high royal descent.
The Elite Retailer Lineage: Sold and signed by R. Stewart of Argyle Street & Buchanan Street, Glasgow—premier Scottish watchmakers and jewelers who catered explicitly to the aristocracy, landed gentry, and elite patrons of the era.
The Master London Casework: Housing the movement is a heavy 65-gram 18-karat gold case bearing the sponsor's mark JW for John Woodman, the esteemed specialist case-maker of Smith Street, Clerkenwell, uniting fine Scottish retail prestige with supreme London craftsmanship.
The Horological Excellence: Driven by a fully signed English fusee movement (No. 48656) featuring immaculate fire-gilt finishing, hand-engraved balance bridge scrollwork, and polished blued steel screws, engineered for precision timing and wound smoothly via the crown.
The Complete Package: Preserved with its original purple leather and velvet-lined fitted presentation case, this piece offers an unbroken, highly documentable association with one of Scotland's most historically significant dynastic families.
Condition Report: Exceptional, museum-grade condition overall. The heavy 18-karat gold case retains crisp hallmarks and sharp definition. The polychrome enamel armorials and intricate personal monogram are preserved in remarkable, pristine state with vibrant colour saturation and no visible loss. The white enamel dial is immaculate, paired with clean original hands. Preserved securely within its original purple leather and velvet-lined fitted presentation box.
Mechanics / Working Order: The movement winds smoothly and is currently in working order, ticking strongly upon being wound; however, it has not been subjected to a recent professional horological service or timing test and is sold as-is in this regard.
Provenance: The G S. May Esquire Private Collection, London
Sandbanks Antiques has dated this Gold Fusee Pocket Watch to the 19th Century.
Specialising in antique silver, gold boxes, gold coins and objects de vertu. Rare fine-quality imperial chinese porcelain, jades, cloisonné
You can view the stock and full dealer information on the Sandbanks Antiques Profile Page
An Important Royal-descent 18-Karat Gold Fusee Pocket Watch by R. Stewart, Glasgow
