English silver triple-cased watch made for the Islamic market Circa 1780

Silver and Tortoiseshell verge watch
–
An English silver and tortoiseshell triple-cased pocket watch, circa 1780. Made for the Islamic market, accompanied by a key. Outer: covered with tortoiseshell, second case: silver, polished with an engraved floral and leaf pattern. A polished silver inner case. White enamel with Turkish numerals and blued steel beetle and poker hands. A gilt brass movement, full plate with pierced pillars, fusee with chain, verge escapement, plain steel three-arm balance, flat balance spring and gilt brass floral cock. Dial and movement are signed: Benjamin Narber.
–
Diameter: 51 mm
–
Signed: George Prior  London
–
George Prior was a renowned watchmaker from London who lived during the late 17th and early 18th centuries. He is known for his high-quality pocket watches, which were highly sought after by the wealthy elite of his time. George Prior was a highly skilled and accomplished watchmaker who made significant contributions to the field of horology. Some of his most notable achievements include:

-Inventing the detached lever escapement, which greatly improved the accuracy and reliability of pocket watches.
-Developing a new type of balance wheel, which was more efficient and reliable than previous designs.
-Creating a range of high-quality watches that were popular with wealthy clients, including members of the royal family.
-Established a successful watchmaking business in London, which became renowned for its quality and craftsmanship.
–
One of his most significant contributions to the industry was the development of the cylinder escapement, which was a major improvement over the earlier verge escapement. The cylinder escapement was more accurate and reliable than the verge escapement, and it quickly became the standard in watchmaking. Prior was also known for his work on chronometers, which were used for navigation at sea. He worked closely with the Royal Observatory in Greenwich to develop accurate timepieces that could be used to determine longitude at sea. George Prior’s contributions to watchmaking in London were significant and helped to establish the city as a centre of innovation and excellence in the field. His legacy continues to be felt in the industry today and he is remembered as one of the most important watchmakers of his time.