Found this today. Apparently from the first few years of this watchmakers work.

 

No photos?

 

Are you sure it is from 1820s?

 

No, since this thread was created I had a lengthy discussion with members of the NAWCC. They came to the conclusion that it is most likely a mid-late 1800’s Swiss copy.

 

It’s also not 18ct gold

 

I forgot I posted this, I’ve changed the title

 

The curettes definitely is not 18-karat. But the rest of the case could be 18-karat.

 

I did wonder, as there’s no sign of base metal showing through.

 

The finger bridges certainly don't seem British. Is the movement really a lever escapement or is it a cylinder that is just marked as "detached lever?"

 

I’m not sure to be honest. There’s a number of typically Swiss component variants used in the movement. For example the escape wheel. Notice the long teeth with blunt ends, known as club-tooth. Traditionally the British used straight teeth on the escape wheel.

I’ve discussed this at length with a number of very experienced watchmakers/repairers and collectors from the NAWCC. All adamant that this is a fake. I guess I would be silly not to agree, but I have to confess. Nobody has fully convinced me that this couldn’t be a genuine Cooper, with Swiss parts. After all, there is no doubt that in the 19th century, English watchmakers routinely imported Swiss movements to put in their watches.

 

I would expect a British movement to be a full plate movement and to not only have a lever escapement but also be a fusee. The photo of the movement here looks very much like what you would expect of a Swiss movement and nothing like a British movement.