English gold verge watch with matching chatelaine Circa 1800

Gold enamel diamond and pearl-s t watch with chatelaine
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An impressive English gold, enamel, diamond and pearl set verge watch with matching chatelaine, circa 1800, gilded full plate movement, verge escapement, flat three arm balance, decoratively pierced balance cock engraved with foliage, fusee and chain, cylindrical pillars, signed Jas. Tregent.
White enamel dial, radial Arabic numerals, outer Arabic minute ring, winding aperture at four o’clock, gold beetle and poker hands.
Gold case, the back with blue enamel over engine turned decoration and with applied diamond set Royal Coronet and cipher: ‘GR’, both bezels set with split pearls, pusher in the pendant to release the front bezel for winding and setting.
The matching gilt metal and gold chatelaine decorated en suite with the case, the pendant chains terminating in pearl fronds, a key and a seal set with chalcedony engraved with a forget me not and the legend ‘a vous’, the chains suspended from a rectangular locket containing plaited hair.
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Diameter: 48 mm   Chatelaine: 125 mm
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Signed: Jas. Tregent
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With a sumptuously decorated case and chatelaine, the back of the watch is heightened with the diamond set royal coronet and cipher of King George III (1738-1820). George III was a great patron of horology and amassed a remarkable collection of clocks, watches and scientific instruments. Famously, in 1770, George III acquired Thomas Mudge’s first pocket watch with lever escapement and soon after became involved in the long running dispute between John Harrison and the Board of Longitude over the tests for Harrison’s chronometer.  Although Tregent frequently signed himself ‘Maker to the Prince of Wales’, he did not, in fact, hold a Royal Warrant. A similar watch to the present piece, also signed by Tregent and of similar date, can be found in the Royal Collection.

James Tregent was recorded at 35 Strand in 1775 and 29 Cranbroune St., Leicester Square in 1780. Britten also provides the following amusing anecdote: “Sheridan, by attributing his proverbial unpunctuality to the lack of a timekeeper, obtained from Harris, proprietor of Covent Garden Theatre, a watch of Tregent’s make”. Tregent was a Freeman of the Clockmakers’ Company from 1781-1808.