English gold minute repeating lever watch Circa 1889-1890

Gold hunting cased repeater by Hunt & Roskell
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A very fine, very rare and small English 18 Carat gold hunting cased minute repeating keyless lever pocket watch, hallmarked London 1889-1890. Frosted gilt three quarter plate movement almost certainly supplied by Audemars Piguet, lateral lever escapement, cut bimetallic compensation balance with gold temperature and meantime adjustment screws, Breguet balance spring, the tail held by a polished steel stud screwed to the cock, diamond endstone, index regulator, repeating on gongs activated by a slide in the band. Gold hinged cuvette. White enamel dial with Roman numerals, outer minute track, subsidiary seconds and original blued steel spade hands. Case by Alfred Stram (master mark), polished, thief proof swivel bow.
Movement signed by Hunt & Roskell.
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Diameter: 41 mm
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Signed: Hunt & Roskell 156 New Bond St. London
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The firm of Hunt & Roskell had very close associations with the Swiss watch industry and often used Swiss movements for their precision watches.
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Hunt & Roskell. The firm was begun by gold and silversmith Paul Storr. In partnership with John Mortimer and John Samuel Hunt, he added the retailing of clocks and watches to his activities of selling gold and silver plate and jewellery in their New Bond Street premises. On December 31, 1838, the partnership was dissolved, business being continued by Mortimer with J.S. and J. Hunt as Mortimer & Hunt at 156 New Bond Street. In 1843 Mortimer retired and was replaced by Robert Roskell. The firm continued as Hunt & Roskell until they were bought by J.W. Benson in 1866. They also had premises in Manchester. The company made watches for the China trade and produced fine minute repeating watches and watches with spherically sprung spring detent tourbillons. They exhibited at the Paris Universal Exhibition of 1867.