English verge with full calendar and stoppable seconds Circa 1790

Double- dialled verge watch attributed to John Bittleston
–
A decorative English double-sided verge pocket watch with a full calendar and stoppable centre seconds, circa 1790. Full plate movement, chain and fusee, verge escapement. A white enamel regulator dial on both sides with Arabic numerals, the dial on the front features four subsidiary dials displaying the time, the days of the week, the months and the date, the central second hand can be stopped with a lever on the side of the case, the reverse with five subsidiary dials showing the hours, minutes, ages of the moon, the tide and regulation, an arched aperture in the centre reveals a digital retrograde second. Brass outer case with remains of fire gilding, the bezels are set with red and clear pastes, the inner case is copper with remains of fire gilding too, a lateral lever to stop the centre seconds.
–
Diameter: 67 mm
–
Weight: 198 g
–
Signed: No name
–
John Bittleston worked at 207 High Holborn, London, between 1765 and 1794. He was made a freeman of the Clockmakers’ Company in 1781. Bittleston was known for his complicated extra-large pocket watches and coach clocks with additional displays and paste-set cases for the Chinese market.
–
In the 92nd auction of Dr Crott on November 15th, 2015 a double-cased carriage clock studded with gemstones made by John Bittleston was presented, it sold for the sum of € 30,000.