English repeating watch for the Ottoman market Circa 1812-1813

Gold, enamel repeating pocket watch by George Prior
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An English repeating gold and enamel pocket watch, made for the Ottoman market, circa 1820.
George Prior crafted this timepiece that boasts of gilt full plate movement and a cylinder escapement. The watch features a single hammer, two barrels, and a three-armed brass balance that ensures accurate timekeeping. The enamel dial is adorned with Turkish numerals, an outer minute track, and steel hands, adding to the watch’s elegance. The gold and multi-coloured polychrome enamel case is a work of art, with an opaque polychrome painting of a bouquet of summer flowers against an engine-turned ground on the back. The watch bears the signature of George Prior on the dial and works, with the latter bearing the inscription George Prior / 36586 / London in script. This exquisite timepiece is a testament to the craftsmanship and attention to detail that George Prior was known for.
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Diameter: 48 mm
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Signed: George Prior, London
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The item bears several marks indicating its composition and origin. There are four marks on the outer case, which include a crown above the number 18 in a rectangle, a shield with the letter R (representing the London date letter for 1812-13), a crowned leopard’s face, and the letters IM incuse (possibly indicating the maker, John Moore). The inner middle case has five marks, including those found on the outer case, a crown beside the number 18 in a rectangle, and a small crowned leopard’s face. The rim has three marks: the number 18 inside an octagon, the shield with the letter R, and the letters IM incuse. The stem also has a mark, which is the crown beside the number 18 in a rectangle.
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George Prior a renowned watchmaker from England.
He was born in 1782 to John Prior, although there is some discrepancy in the naming of his father. George was from Nessfield and primarily worked in Leeds, but he also spent some time in London in 1818.
George Prior was a skilled watchmaker and received two awards from the Royal Society of Arts. In 1809, he was awarded for a clock escapement, and in 1811, he received recognition for a “Remontoir” escapement. This demonstrates his expertise in creating precise and accurate timepieces.
In 1818, George Prior was granted a UK Patent for a “Remontoir”, which further solidified his reputation as an innovative and talented watchmaker. The “Remontoir” was a mechanism that helped to regulate the accuracy of a watch’s timekeeping by ensuring that the mainspring was always fully wound.
Overall, George Prior’s contributions to the field of watchmaking were significant, and his awards and patents demonstrate his expertise and skill in creating precise timepieces.