Deveron Jewellers

Description

A nice 18CT Gold Fob Pocket Watch.
The dial has the hours in blue enamel Roman numerals surrounded by gold decoration with gold to the centre on a pink background. The dial signed "J G Graves, Sheffield - Swiss Made".
The inner cuvette is metal, not gold. The rear cover with lovely engraved decoration and a central cartouche that is free of initials. The case marked "18K" for 18 carat gold.

John George Graves (1866–1945) was a successful English entrepreneur and public benefactor. He became Sheffield's Lord Mayor and an Alderman in 1926 and he was given Freedom of the City in 1929. He was born in Lincolnshire in 1866 and died in 1945, after having settled in Sheffield.
Graves moved to Sheffield to become an apprentice watchmaker. He set up one of Britain's first mail order businesses, selling first watches and then a wide range of goods. A keen art collector, Graves donated nearly £60,000 towards the development of art galleries in Sheffield, including Sheffield Central Library, the Graves Art Gallery and the Mappin Art Gallery. He also contributed hundreds of pictures from his private collection.
Graves donated over £1 million to Sheffield, including the establishment of Sheffield University's Student Union. Part of the Union building is known as the "Graves Building". He also made gifts of land to the city, including Graves Park.