English silver pair cased key winding pocket watch Circa 1772

Silver pair cased verge by Charles Clay
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An English silver pair cased key winding pocket watch, circa 1772. Polished silver plain case in a polished outer silver pair case. White enamel dial with radial Arabic numerals at 3-6-9-12 o’clock, and blued steel Poker & Beetle hands. A gilded brass movement, fusee and chain, verge escapement, a gilded metal monometallic balance and a blued steel flat hairspring, pierced and engraved gilded English cock with a chimaera. Signature on the movement.
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Diameter: 51 mm
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Weight: 91 g
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Signed: Charles Clay London
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Watchmaker Charles Clay was a native of Emley near Huddersfield in Yorkshire. Clay applied for a patent for a repeating, musical watch in February 1716; however, Daniel Quare disputed this patent and while the Attorney General made his decision in favour of Charles Clay, the Clockmakers’ company strongly supported Quare’s claim. Quare was a renowned maker and former Master of the Company. Clay’s patent application was finally dismissed after a year. In 1720, he established his workshop near St. Mary-Le Strand in London, and in 1723, he was appointed clockmaker to His Majesty’s Board of Works. He held the position at least until 1737. Clay presumably died sometime in 1739; his will is dated January 18th, 1739.