Gents Silver Watch with William Morris History

A gents silver cushion cased wrist watch, 1927.

The watch has a gilded hand-winding movement which is working nicely.

The watch measures 32mm wide excluding the winding crown and 32mm high excluding the fixed wire lugs. The case is silver and there are hallmarks inside the case back for Edinburgh 1927 together with a case maker's mark DS and an importer's mark GS for George Stockwell.

From 1 June 1907, Stockwells acted as assay agents, facilitating the import into Britain of foreign gold and silver items, which had to be assayed and hallmarked in a UK assay office before being released for retail.

The case is in good condition with just the odd minor mark to the outside, nothing serious at all. Rather strangely, the inside of the case back has a lot of scratches. The case back has a 1930 inscription for The William Morris Hall, Wimbledon.

William Morris (1834-96) was a major figure within the Arts and Craft period at the end of the 19th Century, and with his friends in the pre-Raphaelite movement, he revolutionised art and design in the Victorian era.

Between 1881 and 1896 Morris collaborated with the celebrated artist Edward Burne-Jones at his workshop in Wimbledon. Morris advocated treating workers fairly, helping in their artistic and educational development. He paid his staff above the going rate, provided them with a library for their education, and clean and healthy surroundings in which to work. 

He often held meetings in the Wimbledon area putting forward his radical views on art and politics. 

Although Morris died in 1896, many of his staff were encouraged by him and his ideas to become involved in community activity.  In 1922, a suitable property was purchased to be used as a meeting place for the Labour party and for local people and their organisations, The William Morris Meeting Rooms, William Morris House, 267 The Broadway, Wimbledon.

In 1930, a large hall was built at the back of the House and because of the enormous influence that William Morris made on the Labour Movement, and to acknowledge his contribution, the Society named the then new hall “William Morris Hall”.

Back to this particular watch, the lens is in good condition, as is the white enamel dial which just has a little light marking. Blued steel hands, a subsidiary seconds dial and an outer minute track.

A new leather strap has been fitted.

The watch will be sent in a new presentation box.

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All of our watches are checked over before listing, and are also checked for accuracy which is usually within around +/- two to three minutes over 24 hours (unless otherwise stated), which is considered respectable for a vintage watch.

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