Gold English quarter repeater Nicole winding Circa 1846

An English quarter repeater with offset seconds and Nicole winding in a gold open faced case, hallmarked London circa 1846. Gilt three quarter plate keyless movement with steel Nicole patent winding work. Engraved cock with polished steel regulator, compensation balance with blue steel spiral hairspring. English table roller lever escapement and escape pivots with end stones. Slide quarter repeating on two polished steel gongs. White enamel dial with subsidiary seconds offset at seven o’clock, Roman numerals and blue steel hands. Slim plain 18 Carat open face case, gold slide in the milled band. Clip on engine turned gold back, rubbed at the edges, small vacant circular cartouche. Maker’s mark AN in a rectangle and number corresponding to that on the movement.
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Diameter: 45 mm
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Signed: E.J. Dent Watchmaker to the Queen London Patent No 11480
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An unusually small quarter repeater retailed by Dent but made by the firm of Nicole Nielsen who manufactured for many of the eminent watchmaking firms in the second half of the 19th Century. Adolphe Nicole took out the patent for keyless winding in 1844, this is, therefore a very early example. Repeating watches by Nicole Nielsen are uncommon.