English 18K gold hunting cased duplex pocket watch Circa 1851

Gold full hunter watch 
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A fine English 18 carat gold hunting cased pocket watch with a rare duplex escapement made by John carter in London, circa 1851. An extremely high quality engine turned case with a ribbed band, spring lid mechanism and London hallmarks for 1851, the inside back lid with a dedication from 1853. Original white enamel dial with Roman hour numerals, an outer minutes track, subsidiary seconds at 6 o’clock and blued steel spade hands. The exquisite duplex movement with ruby rolls and a ruby cover stone. Dial and movement signed and numbered, case numbered, dial case and movement with matching numbers.
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Diameter: 47 mm
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Weight: 84 g
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Signed: John Carter 61 Cornhill London
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John Carter, English watchmaker
John Carter was born on March 8th, 1804, to clockmaker William Carter in Bermondsey, Southwark, London. Left an orphan at a young age, he was earmarked for a cadet position in the Indian service. Instead, around 1817, he was apprenticed to chronometer maker Boys Err Burrill.
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Carter was recorded as a watch and chronometer maker in Tooley Street, London, in 1827 and in 1829, he became a member of the Clockmakers’ Company. He then also worked for other watchmakers.
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John received numerous awards for his chronometers throughout his career, including at the 1834 and 1835 Greenwich Premium Trials. Sir George Biddell Airy, Royal Astronomer and Director of the Royal Greenwich Observatory, described the quality of his 1838 chronometers as exceptionally good.
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In 1840, Carter established his own business at 61 Cornhill in London. He was known for the excellence of his instruments when he served as a juror at the Imperial Exhibition in Paris in 1855. He was Master of the Clockmakers’ Company and Fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society in 1856, 1857, 1859, 1860, 1864 and 1865, and was also appointed Maker to the Royal Navy.
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Carter was also socially active. He was Common Councilman in Cornhill from 1842 to 1851, alderman in the same parish in 1851, sheriff in 1852 and form 1859 to 1860 Lord Mayor. He was a Colonel in the London Rifle Brigade, a FRAS by 1830 and FSA in 1853. He was also a founding member of the Jamaica Committee in 1866.
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John Carter died on May 8th, 1878, in Stamford Hill, London.