English silver repeating watch decorated with tortoiseshell Circa 1700

Silver and tortoiseshell watch by Christopher Gould
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An English silver, pair-cased repeating verge pocket watch with self-strike and decorated with tortoiseshell, circa 1700.
The watch has a luxurious full plate movement, a chain/fusee mechanism, and a beautifully engraved barrel for the striking train. It also features a steel balance and a finely engraved and pierced balance cock. The silver champlevé dial has Roman radial hours, an outer minutes track with Arabic numerals for five-minute intervals and elegant blued steel hands. The watch comes with two cases: an outer one covered in tortoiseshell with inlaid silver decorations and a plain silver inner case. Signature on movement: Chr. Gould / London, and on face: Gould / London.
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Diameter: 51 mm
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Signed: Gould London
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Christopher Gould, an English watchmaker, joined the Clockmaker’s Company in London in 1682. He initially operated from Little Moor Fields in London but faced bankruptcy in 1706 while running his business near the Royal Exchange. Following this, he became the bailiff to the Clockmakers Company and relied on them for a pension from 1713 until he died in 1718. Gould was renowned for crafting exquisite grandfather clocks and a few pocket watches. His work was exceptional, comparable to that of his contemporaries such as Tompion, Fromanteel, and Graham. Many of his creations are displayed in museums, country houses, and private collections.