A John Bushman pocket watch, one of few known to exist, comes to auction in the UK on February 21 with a £5,000 to £7,000 estimate.

The circa 1710 silver timepiece, made by the German craftsman in London, incorporates a rare shutter display system, which replaces the more traditional dials.

According to the BBC, it is one of only 10 pocket watches incorporating the display system that are known to exist, and only the second of this particular design.

Its pair is on display at the Victoria & Albert Museum in London.

A similar shutter display system pocket watch sold for $6,000 at a US auction 10 years ago.

"At the beginning of the 18th century a few makers started to design novel ways of showing the time, presumably to attract the new customers," watch expert David Penney told the BBC.

"This is one of the more unusual ones and it could be that more were made, but they just haven't survived or were changed to have normal dials."

The £7,000-estimated Bushman pocket watch

Penney added that the timepieces were something of a gimmick. "I'm sure this was for someone to pull out of their pocket and amaze their friends," he said.

Certainly not a gimmick, and doubtless attractive to countless collectors, is a Longines men's watch we currently have available.

In operation since 1832, like Bushman the company is synonymous with innovation and elegance.

Bushman worked in London between 1690 and 1720, and was among many skilled craftsmen from the continent who plied their trade in London at the time.