Decorated English repeater for the Chinese market Circa 1788

Gold, enamel, pearl and ruby set cylinder watch by Francis Perigal
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An English 18 carat gold, enamel, pearl and ruby set hour striking and repeating pair cased pocket watch with center seconds made for the Chinese market, circa 1788. Full plate movement, chain/fusee, cylinder escapement, three armed steel balance. White enamel dial with Roman hours and Arabic minutes, centre seconds and decorative hands. vertalenaBoth bezels of the outer case studded with alternating split pearls and rubies, translucent cobalt blue enamel medallion over engine turned ground to the back, engine turning in addition to the radial pattern shows a bird with spread wings and open beak sitting on a vase, band pierced and ornamented with white champlevé flowers, the gold inner case engraved with flowers over a hatched ground to the back, band pierced and engraved with foliage, signed and numbered movement protection cap, rear bell.
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Diameter: 52 mm
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Weight: 163 g
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Signed: Fras Perigal Royal Exchange London
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Francis Perigal was active from about 1770 to the time of his death in 1794. He was admitted as honorary freeman the Clockmaker’s Company in 1781. A maker of fine and interesting watches and was Watchmaker to the King in 1784. Little is known of Perigal, but the few surviving watches bearing his name are of considerable mechanical interest and of fine quality. He was succeeded in the business by his son, also Francis, and there were several other makers in the family.