English silver hour striking and half quarter repeater Circa 1770

Silver pair cased hour striking and half quarter repeating coach watch
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An English fine and large silver pair cased hour striking and half quarter repeating coach watch with mahogany display box, circa 1770, gilded full plate movement, decoratively pierced balance cock engraved with scrolling foliage, the figure plate with engraved serpent whose tongue indicates to the regulation plate, diamond endstone, fusee and chain, cylindrical pillars, plain gilt metal dust cover, the movement with a single hammer for striking and two for repetition, all to a bell to the inside case back, movement signed.
White enamel dial with Roman numerals, outer Arabic minute ring with double dots at the quarters and single dot indicating half quarters, blued steel beetle and poker hands.
Silver inner case, the band pierced and engraved with scrolling foliage and dolphins’ heads, a grotesque mask to the base, apertures to the case back for going and striking trains and centered with a rosette, strike/silent lever to the bezel at 2 o’clock, pulse piece between 4 and 5 o’clock, silver outer, both bezels pierced for sound emission and engraved with scrolling foliage, plain back, outer with case maker’s mark PM incuse for Peter Mounier. Mahogany box with brass strut stand, gilt metal aperture to reveal the dial.
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Diameter: 65 mm
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Signed: Justin Vuillamy London
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This large striking and repeating watch would have been a superior traveling accessory for the 18th-century gentleman, a convenient timekeeper both within one’s coach and for display in one’s accommodation whilst away from home. Typifying Vulliamy’s distinctive style, this is an extremely fine-quality coach watch with richly engraved silver cases.

Justin Vulliamy was the patriarch of three generations of watch and clockmakers. He left Switzerland and moved to England becoming the partner of Benjamin Gray, whose daughter he married. Following his father-in-law’s death, Vulliamy continued to employ Gray’s coded numbering system. Vulliamy’s son Benjamin was active from 1775-1820 and in turn his son, Benjamin Lewis, continued the business until his death in 1854.

Pulse piece lacking.