English pair cased self strike verge pocket watch Circa 1785

Impressive gold watch for the Ottoman market by Daniel de St. Leu
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An impressive English pair cased verge pocket watch with quarter hour self strike and repoussé case studded with diamonds for the Ottoman market, circa 1785.
Two cases: outer case – 18 Carat gold, à goutte, the backside with chased decor: a bouquet of summer flowers, the borders with chased foliage, diamond studded silver bezel, and large lateral hinge; inner case – 18 Carat gold with pierced and florally engraved border, rear bell, and lever to set strike/not strike Strick/Silent at 3. Signed enamel dial with Ottoman numerals and pierced stone-set hands. Full plate movement, applied floral ornaments, signed and gilt, with chain/fusee, solid circular movement pillars, two hammers, gilt, frosted and signed movement protection cap, three-arm brass balance, and fine florally engraved and pierced balance cock.
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Diameter: 65 mm
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Weight: 214 g
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Signed: Daniel de St. Leu, Watchmaker to her Majesty, London
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Daniel de St. Leu
Daniel deSt. Leu originally came from Geneva and worked from 1753 to 1797; he created some of the most beautiful and intricate watches of the eighteenth century. In 1765 he was appointed watchmaker to Queen Charlotte, wife of King George III – the fact that all of de St. Leu’s watches after this year are either signed ‘Sevt. to her Majesty’, or ‘Watch Maker to her Majesty’ is proof that he held this title for the rest of his life. De St. Leu was specialized in the production of watches for the wealthy Ottoman market, where the clientele wanted their watches to be pieces of jewellery, often in lavish gold cases with elaborate decoration and set with precious stones. In the 18th century, English watches were very much in demand on the Ottoman market and exported in great numbers from England. R. Rolt states in ‘A New Dictionary of Trade and Commerce’, 1756, that “Great quantities of watches are exported to Asia, particularly to Turkey; where they serve more for ornaments like pictures in rooms, than for use in pockets.” Daniel de St. Leu created movements of superior quality and put them in extravagant cases – the perfect timepieces for the Ottoman market.