English perpetual calendar lever watch with moon phases Circa 1900

Gold open faced perpetual calendar watch by Hector Golay
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A very fine English gold open faced keyless lever perpetual calendar watch with moon phases, circa 1900. The watch features a gilded 2/3 plate movement with lever escapement, jewelled to the centre, free sprung bimetallic compensation balance, blued steel spring with overcoil, diamond endstone, and is signed by Hector Golay of London with the serial number 2484. The dial is a Willis-type Venetian enamel dial with Roman numerals, an outer minute ring, and four subsidiary dials for day, and month with leap year indication, date, and subsidiary seconds combined with an aperture for moon phases. It also has blued steel fleur de lys hands.
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The case is made of 18k gold with plain polished covers and a gold cuvette. It features a gold pendant and bow, a recessed pusher for manual calendar advancement at 8 o’clock, and a further adjuster at 4 o’clock. The case back has 18k gold London hallmarks for 1900, and the cuvette, pendant, and bow are hallmarked for 18k gold. Additionally, the case, cuvette, and pendant bear the maker’s mark FT for Fred Thoms.
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Diameter: 53 mm
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Signed: Hector Golay, London
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Movement is functioning properly, with the calendar advancing smoothly from April to May. However, the moon disc is not advancing and requires attention. The adjuster at 4 o’clock is currently non operational. There is a faint hairline crack running between the subsidiary seconds and date dial, as well as through the centre of the sunken date dial. The case is in a repolished condition, and the hallmark on the bow is rubbed.
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Charles Hector Golay English watchmaker
Charles Hector Golay, also known as Hector, was born in Switzerland (Jura) but spent most of his life working in London, based at 46 Myddleton Square. He operated under the trade name “H. Golay” and was granted a patent (No. 12417) in October 1885 for his invention of the “rocking bar” tandem keyless work.
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At the end of the 19th century, Golay was one of the most significant manufacturers of intricate clocks in England, alongside Nicole, Nielsen & Co. He produced clocks with interchangeable minute repeater movements. An example of this is watch no. 2577, which is precisely made as described in Golay’s catalogue from around 1885. Golay collaborated with the leading London case makers of the time, including Frederick Thoms, who gained fame for his cases with ‘thief-proof’ rotating brackets. Hector Golay also provided movements to James William Benson.