English silver pair cased verge pocket watch with alarm Circa 1710

Silver open faced pocket watch by Daniel Quare
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A remarkable, rare pair cased English one-handed verge pocket watch with repoussé decoration and alarm, circa 1710.
Two cases: outer silver case decorated with floral motifs and small landscape scenes as well as with four distinctive portraits; and inner silver case which is equally lovingly finished, and the scroll ornaments are open-worked for a better alarm signal. This watch has a lavishly decorated balance staff and an unusual engraved gold barrel for the alarm. Silver, champlevé dial with inlaid radial Roman hours, central alarm disc with Arabic numerals, and Beetle hand. Fine full plate movement, keywind, fire gilt, signed, applied engraved and open work ornaments, chain/fusee one hammer/one bell, baluster movement pillars, steel balance, open work balance cock with fine floral engravings and mascaron, chatoned diamond endstone on balance, and three-arm steel balance.
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Diameter: 56 mm
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Weight: 187 g
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Signed: Daniel Quare, London
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Daniel Quare, one of the most eminent makers was born around 1648 in Somerset shire. He joined the clockmaker’s company in 1671 and became a master in 1708. He died on March 21, 1724, in Croydon in Surrey. In addition to his legendary clocks and watches, Quare created various barometers and mathematical instruments and is credited with the invention of the rack striking mechanism. He came to the attention of the King in 1686, when Edward Barlow tried to patent a repeating mechanism for watches, and Quare, with the support of the clockmaker’s company, appealed his patent, saying he had been making repeaters since 1680. Repeating was important in the era before easily turned-on electric light, so you could know what time it was in the dark. Barlow’s patent was refused, and the king, testing Barlow’s and Quare’s watches side by side, stated a preference for Quare’s. There are Quare clocks in the royal collections at Buckingham Palace and Hampton Court, as well as in important museums and further private collections.