English 18 carat gold watch with duplex escapement Circa 1805

Gold hunting cased pocket watch
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A very fine and rare English, 18 carat yellow gold hunting cased pocket watch with duplex escapement, circa 1805. The case is made by Russell Ponifex with London hallmark for 1805-1806. A polished case, fixed gold cuvette, gilt dust cap. White enamel dial, radial Roman numerals, outer minute divisions, large subsidiary seconds. Gold spade hands.
A gilt, full-plate movement, cylindrical pillars, fusee and chain, maintaining power, duplex escapement with a ruby roller, escape wheel jewelled with end stones in screwed chatons, polished steel three-arm balance with flat rim, diamond endstone, chased and engraved single footed cock, flat balance spring. Dial and movement signed. Dial, case and movement numbered.
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Diameter: 55 mm
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Signed: James Mc Cabe  London
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The dial is slightly damaged and the case is worn.
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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.