English superb gold and enamel cylinder watch Circa 1770

Gold and enamel centre seconds cylinder watch
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An English superb gold and enamel open faced centre seconds cylinder watch, circa 1770. Gilded full plate movement, cylinder escapement, applied pierced and engraved foliate decoration surrounding the matching large balance cock, steel balance, diamond endstone, fusee and chain, sun and planet maintaining power, baluster pillars, gilt metal dust cap, the stop lever acting on balance amplitude control pin, movement and dust cap signed John Kentish Jun^r.
White enamel, subsidiary dial for time indication with Roman numerals, outer Arabic minute ring, blued steel beetle & poker hands, gold centre seconds indicating to outermost Arabic ring, signed John Kentish Jun^r, London
The case back is centred by an enamel plaque with polychrome enamel painted crest of Evelyn Pierrepont, the panel surrounded by cross palm fronds and a tied ribbon in imperial blue basse taille enamel within engine turning and bordered by white enamel, both bezels decorated with translucent blue enamel flowers and foliage interspersed by white enamel fronds, winding shutter to the border of the enamel plaque with lever adjacent to hinge, stop slide beneath the bezel adjacent to 20-second numeral, the case with maker’s mark RP incuse probably for Richard Palmer
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Diameter: 58 mm
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Signed: John Kentish Jun^r London
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The polychrome enamel painted crest to the case back is that of Evelyn Pierrepont (1711-1773), second Duke of Kingston-upon-Hull. Pierrepont was installed as a Knight of the Garter in 1741 and therefore the crest has the garter and motto with the royal crown above – the motto reads “Honi soit qui mal y pense” meaning “Shame on him who thinks this evil.”  The Duke, whose seat was Holme Pierrepont, Nottinghamshire, served with distinction in the Army and became a general in 1772. He was Lord Lieutenant of Nottinghamshire and Steward of Sherwood Forest 1763-5. He ‘married’ the bigamous Elizabeth Chudleigh, the notorious ‘Duchess of Kingston’ who, in the late 1770s appears to have been instrumental in introducing James Cox to business in St. Petersburg. The enamel decorated case back has an ingeniously concealed winding shutter to the border of the central oval, this is opened via a catch by the hinge. 

John Kentish Junior has been active between 1758-74.  During the 1760s, he formed a partnership with John Adam Mangaar (1746-1809) and William Allman. The partnership was based at Storey’s Gate, Westminster, London but was dissolved in 1772. In 1774 Kentish was declared bankrupt but he continued to work as a watchmaker until 1798.