Early English verge clock watch for the Turkish market Circa 1785

Gold, enamel and pearl-set repeating watch by George Prior
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A very early English 18 carat gold, enamel and pearl-set pair cased hour repeating verge clock watch made for the Turkish market, circa 1785. Highly complicated verge movement, half-hour self strike with muting and hour repeating by pressing the small button in the pendant. White enamel dial with Turkish numerals and unique pearl-set gold hands. The back of the outer case is polychrome enamel, pearl-set, pierced and engraved, with the finest sound openings and blanc cartouche, bezel on the front also pearl-set, pierced and engraved inner case, bell. Dial signed, cuvette and movement signed and numbered. Accompanied by the original box with a holding device for a key and the original key with pearls on both sides.
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Diameter: 59 mm
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Weight: 165 g
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Signed: George Prior London
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Most of the gold and enamel watches for the Ottoman market were relatively small with sizes between 35 and 50 mm in diameter. The repeater is a special feature of these watches and only a few of these pieces have an additional self-striking mechanism like this one.
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George Prior was the son of the watchmaker John Prior from Nessfield and one of the most famous London manufacturers for the Turkish and Islamic market. He worked with Edward Prior (probably a brother) and was twice honoured by the Royal Society of Arts for his works.