English 18 carat gold pair-cased verge pocket watch Circa 1788

Gold pocket watch with London hallmarks
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A fine English, 18K yellow gold pair-cased pocket watch, circa 1788. The case is made by John Clarke with London hallmark for 1788. Outer: engraved with flower, scroll and dot decoration, vacant oval cartouche. Inner: polished. Gilt brass dust cover. White enamel dial with radial Arabic numerals and outer dot minute track. Gold arrow hands.
A frosted gilt full-plate movement, cylindrical pillars, fusee and chain, verge escapement, three-arm steel balance with perpendicular stop-pin, flat balance spring, pierced and engraved balance cock, diamond endstone, silvered regulation dial. Movement signed.
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Diameter: 52 mm
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Signed: James Mc Cabe  London
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The case is oxidized.
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James Mc Cabe One of three horologist sons of Irish watch and clockmaker William Mc Cabe, who moved to London in the third quarter of the 18th century. In April 1781 he was made an honorary freeman of the Clockmaker’s Company and took up the livery in 1787. Although Mc Cabe used a wide variety of escapements, he is particularly associated with the improvement of the duplex escapement. On his death in 1811 he was Senior Warden of the Mc Cabe Company. He was succeeded by his son, also named James, who became free of the London Clockmaker’s Company in 1822. Subsequently, the business was continued by Mc Cabe’s nephew, Robert Jeremy Mc Cabe, who closed the firm on his retirement in 1883.