English silver half hunting cased chronometer Circa 1863

Silver pocket chronometer by Dent
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A very fine and rare English silver half hunting cased pocket chronometer, Hallmarked London 1863. Matte gilt ½ plate, ring turned pillars, fusee and chain, Harrison’s maintaining power, jeweled to the third wheel, Earnshaw type chronometer escapement with gold escape wheel, spring footed detent, freesprung cut bimetallic compensation balance with gold temperature and meantime adjustment screws, blued steel helical balance spring with terminal curves, diamond endstone, foliate engraved balance cock. Hinged silver cuvette. White enamel dial with Roman numerals, outer minute track, subsidiary seconds and original blued steel spade hands.  Engine turned case, the front with applied chapter ring, blue enamel Roman numerals, inner minute track, reeded band, gold hinges. Dial and movement signed.
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Diameter: 54 mm
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Signed: Dent Watchmaker to the Queen 61 Strand 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 on his own 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.