BENJAMIN GRAY & JUSTIN VULLIAMY
Benjamin Gray was born in 1676. He was working in Pall
Mall in 1727 before moving to St. James Street and then
returning to Pall Mall in 1752. He became Watchmaker in
Ordinary to King George II in 1742.
Justin Vulliamy was born in Switzerland and moved to
England circa 1730. In 1743 Gray and Vulliamy joined
forces to form an excellent partnership. In 1746 Vulliamy
married Gray’s daughter and together their business
flourished producing regulators, watches and table clocks
of outstanding quality.
Neither Gray nor Vulliamy hesitated to make use of the
finest craftsmen including the likes of Matthew Boulton,
the great ormolu manufacturer and engineer (1728-1809),
and the Swiss enameller George Michael Moser (1705-
1783).
There are many fine examples of Gray & Vulliamy’s work
extant, including a watch dated 1757 in the Guildhall
Museum, (this watch was once owned by James
Stockham, commander of the Thunderer at the Battle
of Trafalgar) and two longcase clocks in the Wetherfield
collection.
The Royal collection retains several fine clocks made
during the partnership and many more still by Justin
Vulliamy, made after Gray’s death.
Benjamin Gray died in 1764 and the Royal Warrant passed
to Vulliamy. He died in 1790 but his sons Benjamin and
Benjamin Lewis continued the business which flourished
under Royal patronage until the mid 19
th
century.
There are handsome oil portraits of both Benjamin Gray
and Justin Vulliamy in the Clockmakers Company Museum
in the Guildhall, London.
❝ We love: the gorgeous fiddle-back walnut door and the
handsome masculine proportions.
Elegant 12 inch square brass dial with clear, concise lay-
out, the slightly larger seconds ring balances everything.
Best quality London movement with original weights and
pendulum.
The Queen also owns beautiful clocks by Gray and
Vulliamy.❞
58
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