English gold pair cased repeating watch in shagreen case Circa 1770

Gold, shagreen repeating clock watch by William Webster
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An English gold pair cased quarter repeating clock watch in shagreen case, circa 1770.
The watch features a gilt full plate movement with a verge escapement, a pierced and engraved balance cock, a fusee and a chain mechanism. The enamel dial is adorned with Roman radial hours, an outer minutes track and blued steel Fleur-de-Lys hands. The smooth gold inner case of the watch is pierced and engraved. The outer case is covered in shagreen. The watch is numbered 944 and features William Webster’s signature on both the movement and the cover.
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Diameter: 60 mm
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Signed: William Webster
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William Webster was a skilled English watchmaker who was based in Exchange Alley, London. He began his career as an apprentice to his uncle, John Barnett, in March 1702. Sadly, Barnett passed away just six months later. Webster then went on to work with Thomas Tompion, where he honed his skills and became a highly skilled watchmaker. In July 1710, he became a member of the Clockmakers Company and opened his shop on Exchange Alley the following year. After Tompion’s death, Webster advertised that he had learned all of Tompion’s secrets and became a highly respected watchmaker in his own right. He even served as the Junior Warden of the Clockmakers Company from 1734 until he died in 1735. Webster’s legacy as a skilled watchmaker continues to be celebrated today.