Repeater watch in diamond set gold and agate case Circa 1750

Miniature diamond set gold and agate repeater
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An English quarter repeating verge in diamond set gold and agate pair cases made for the Chinese market, circa 1750. Full plate fire gilt movement with dust cover. Pierced and engraved cock, silver regulator disc. Fusee and chain with worm and wheel barrel set up between the plates. Plain three arm gilt balance, blue steel spiral hairspring.
Push pendant quarter repeating on a bell in the case. White enamel dial with Roman and Arabic numerals, fine blue steel beetle and poker hands. Gold inner case with decorative central engraving to the back.Pierced and engraved sides, decorative gold push pendant, and stirrup bow. Gold outer case with pierced and engraved repousse work, the front bezel set with four agate panels. The centre of the back set with a polished agate bearing a foliate setting of hand cut irregularly shaped diamonds.
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Diameter: 40 mm
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Signed: B Sidey London
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Apart from some notable examples by James Cox, very few watches of the period used agate for decoration. Benjamin Sidey, apprenticed 1701, free of the Clockmakers Company 1711 and master in 1761 and 1789