English rare 18K gold pocket watch chronometer Circa 1800

Open faced important chronometer by Earnshaw
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A rare, important English pocket watch chronometer, Invenit et Fecit (invented and made) by Thomas Earnshaw, circa 1800.
18 carat gold case with hallmarks London and year punch C, probably 1798. Earnshaw chronometer movement with spring detent escapement, very big steel balance and very rare sugar tongs temperature compensation. White enamel dial with Roman hours, subsidiary dial with Arabic seconds and gold spade hands.
Dial and movement, signed and numbered.
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Diameter: 54 mm
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Weight: 133 g
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Signed: Thomas Earnshaw Invenit et Fecit
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The watch includes a high-quality gold watch chain with gold watch keys. The watch is a rarity for chronometer collectors and one of the earliest Earnshaw chronometers with the rare “Sugar-Tong” compensation. A nearly identical chronometer with the number 580/3023 was sold in Basel auction 1990. Another comparable chronometer with the number 487/2828 was sold in Sotheby’s auction for more than € 28.000.