English gold repeating centre seconds lever Circa 1873-1874

Gold hunting cased minute repeater with independent dead centre seconds 
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A very fine, extremely rare English 18-carat gold hunting cased minute repeating two-train keyless lever pocket watch with independent dead centre seconds, Hallmarked London 1873-1874.
Frosted gilt 3/4 plate movement (probably supplied by Nicole Nielsen), two-train with tandem winding, 21 jewels, lateral lever escapement, cut bimetallic compensation balance with gold temperature and meantime adjustment screws, blued steel Breguet balance spring, the tail held by a polished steel stud screwed to the cock, foliate engraved 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, outermost Arabic five seconds numerals and original blued steel spade hands. Polished case by Alfred Stram (master mark), slide for locking the centre seconds at 6 o’clock. Dial and movement signed.
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Diameter: 52 mm
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Weight: 143 g
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Signed: Dent Watchmaker to the Queen, 33 Cockspur Street, London
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The Dent family. Edward John Dent (1790-1853) was a celebrated maker of watches, clocks, chronometers and regulators. From 1815 to 1829 he was employed by the Vulliamys and the Barrauds. In 1830, he entered into a partnership with J.R. Arnold. In 1840, he set up his account at 33 Cockspur Street, London. He was the builder of ‘Big Ben’, the famous Westminster clock (his stepson Frederick Dent completed the clock). He made many fine chronometers and watches, as well as others of a high commercial grade. Edward John married Marianna Frederica, the widow of his master Richard Rippon. Her sons Frederick and Richard took Dent’s name and continued the business. In 1862, the firm, under the name of M.F. Dent, showed a selection of watches at the International Exhibition and again at the Paris Exhibition of 1867. The firm continued until relatively recently at 41 Pall Mall, London, as E. Dent & Co. Ltd.