English 18K gold quarter repeating pocket watch Circa 1750

Gold verge in pair cases by George Graham
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An English 18 carat gold pair cased quarter repeating verge pocket watch, circa 1750. The key wound movement with a verge escapement, repeating the quarter hours. White enamel dial with Roman hours, an outer minute track, Arabic five minute numerals and blued poker & beetle hands. A polished outer case, the inner case is pierced and engraved. Case numbered, dust cap signed. Comes with the original winding key.
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Diameter: 46 mm
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Weight: 121 g
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Signed: Geo Graham London
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George Graham was born on July 7th, 1673, maybe 1675 in Kirkliston, Cumberland and died on November 16th, 1751. He was one of England’s most renowned clock and watchmakers, an inventor and geophysicist, and a Fellow of the Royal Society. Further, a Quaker like his mentor Thomas Tompion. Graham left Cumberland in 1688 for London to work with Tompion. He later married Tompion’s niece, Elizabeth Tompion.

Graham is credited with inventing several design improvements to the pendulum clock, the mercury pendulum and the orrery, a mechanical model of the solar system that illustrates or predicts the relative positions and motions of the planets and moons. He was made Master of the Worshipful Company of Clockmakers in 1722. Between 1730 and 1738, Graham had Thomas Mudge as an apprentice who went on to be an eminent watchmaker in his own right and invented the lever escapement, an important development for pocket watches. Graham was introduced to John Harrison on the latter’s arrival in London and became a long-time advisor and supporter of Harrison’s work on a marine chronometer. He was also widely acquainted with practical astronomy, invented many valuable astronomical instruments and improved others.

On his death, as a sign of the great respect in which Graham was held, Tompion’s grave in Westminster Abbey was opened to receive the body of his former partner.