English gold full hunter repeating watch with calendar Circa 1845

Gold hunting cased pocket watch by Santiago James Moore French
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An impressive and highly decorated English gold hunting cased quarter repeating two-train clock watch with calendar and duplex escapement, made for the South American market, circa 1845. The movement features two intricately designed and engraved three-quarter plates, a duplex escapement, and a repeating gong mechanism. It is signed and numbered by French, Royal Exchange, London, with a serial number. The silver dial is adorned with foliate engraved decoration, applied gold floral decoration, gilt Roman hours, and a subsidiary chapter ring for the date. It also includes blued crescent hands. The dial is also signed and numbered by French, Royal Exchange, London, with the serial number 9328. The heavily and ornately engraved case includes levers to adjust the day and date under the bezel. It is hallmarked London 1845, with the case maker’s mark LC representing Louis Comtesse of Soho, London.
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Diameter: 57 mm
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Signed: French, Royal Exchange, London
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The chapter rings show scuffs and the dial is tarnished. The case has light scuffs throughout and is heavily tarnished. The latch is not releasing the lid. The movement is running, but the striking mechanism is not operating.
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Santiago James Moore French was located at the Royal Exchange and Sweetings Alley in London. The dial and case are highly decorated, both inside and out, with intricate foliate engraving on the inside and outside of each cover, as well as on the cuvette, backplate of the movement, pendant, and bow. This style of decoration was particularly popular in the Spanish and South American markets. The case maker of this watch, Louis Comtesse, also produced similar cases for other makers, including Jose R. Losada, a Spanish watchmaker working in London from 1835 to 1881.