Subsidiary seconds verge by Thomas Tompion Circa 1690

Silver subsidiary seconds verge by Tompion
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An English verge pocket watch by Tompion with subsidiary seconds dial, circa 1690  Deep full plate fire gilt movement with pierced tulip pillars.  Fusee and chain with worm and wheel barrel setup between the plates.  Pierced and engraved winged cock, pierced and engraved foot.  Plain steel balance, silver regulator disc. Purpose made signed white enamel dial with subsidiary seconds, Roman and Arabic numerals, blue steel beetle and poker hands. Purpose made matching silver pair cases, hallmarked London 1769, maker’s mark SC.
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Diameter: 54 mm
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Signed: Thos Tompion London
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Until the invention of the balance spring watches were not accurate enough for the indication of seconds to be useful.  There are less than a dozen examples of Tompion’s watches with subsidiary seconds recorded.  The dial plate is stamped SC for the movement finisher whose mark is found on many Tompion watches as well as some by Daniel Quare and James Markwick.   The mark might be for Sampson Crooke.  The quality of the movement was still appreciated enough  80 years after its manufacture to warrant it having a new dial and case made for it.