English pair-cased hour repeating verge with hour self-strike Circa 1700

Hour repeater with self-strike by Christopher Gould
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An English silver and tortoiseshell pair-cased hour repeating verge pocket watch with hour self-strike, circa 1700. Full plate movement, chain and fusee, florally engraved barrel for striking train, 2½-arm steel balance, fine florally engraved and pierced balance cock. Silver and gilt dial with Roman hours, Arabic five-minute numerals and decorated centre. The outer case is covered with tortoiseshell, decorated with studs, silver richly florally engraved and pierced inner case, rear bell. Dial signed, movement signed and numbered.
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Diameter: 53 mm
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Weight: 147 g
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Signed: Chr. Gould London
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This timepiece has certainly not an everyday design: The winding stem passes through the balance, which means it would collide with a third arm of the balance. A sophisticated solution sees the third arm replaced by a counterweight and retains the equilibrium.
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Some pocket watches by Christopher Gould are known, but he is mainly famous for a number of exquisite longcase clocks. Gould became a member of the Clockmakers’ Company of London in 1682. He had premises in the area of the Royal Exchange, which he had to close in 1706 due to lack of funds. In later years he became a bailiff. Christopher Gould died around 1718.