English gold and enamel quarter repeating verge Circa 1790

Large gold quarter repeater made for the Turkish market
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An unusual and large English gold and enamel pair cased quarter repeating verge watch made for the Turkish market, circa 1790, gilt full plate movement, finely pierced and engraved balance cock, diamond endstone, dust ring, repeating on a bell, white enamel dial with Turkish numerals and skeletonized hands, inner case with pink enamel cartouche to the center painted en grisaille with flowers and trophies of war, pierced band, outer case similarly decorated, the border and bezel with a looping white enamel band interspersed with gold foliage on a mauve ground, band and the bezels scalloped which close on enameled wavy edges, diamond set pendant, and thumb-piece, dial and movement signed George Prior, London.
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Diameter: 52 mm
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Signed: George Prior London
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George Prior specialized in pieces for the Turkish market, often creating beautiful and elaborately decorated watches with enamel and pearl work. The enamel designs of this watch are common to Continental work of the period, but their painterly style of execution owes more to the English tradition.

The quarter repeating movement strikes on a bell to the inside of the case back which is signed by ‘Drury,’ a well-known English bell maker.