English gold minute repeating lever pocket watch Circa 1890

Gold open faced keyless watch
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A very fine English, 18K gold keyless minute repeating pocket watch, circa 1890. The case with London hallmarks for 1890-1891. A polished case, protected hand-setting button. Hinged gold cuvette. White enamel dial by Willis, radial Roman numerals, outer minute track, subsidiary seconds. Blued steel spade hands. A 3/4 plate movement, frosted gilt, 21 jewels, lateral counterpoised lever escapement, cut bimetallic compensation balance with gold temperature and meantime adjustment screws, blued steel Breguet balance spring, diamond endstone, index regulator, repeating on gongs activated by a slide on the band. Dial and movement signed.
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Diameter: 52 mm
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Signed: Dent, Watchmaker to the Queen  London
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This is a high-quality repeater, very highly finished and with a dial by Willis, the finest English dial maker. The Dent Family Edward John Dent (1790-1853) A celebrated maker of watches, clocks, chronometers and regulators. After starting life as a tallow chandler, Dent switched to watchmaking. From 1815 to 1829, he was employed by the Vulliamys and the Barrauds. In 1830 he entered into a partnership with J. R. Arnold. In 1840 he set up on his own account at 33 Cockspur Street, London. He was the builder of Big Ben, the famous Westminster clock. He made many fine chronometers and watches as well as others of a high commercial grade. The firm continued until relatively recently at 41 Pall Mall, London, as E. Dent & Co. Ltd. Frederick Dent Was the stepson of Edward John Dent and completed the Westminster (Big Ben) clock for which Edward John had won the order. Marianna Frederica Dent Born Cowslade married Richard Rippon on October 15, 1850, who had assumed shortly before the name of Dent, that of his father-in-law. The couple was responsible for the branch of the Dent business at 33 Cockspur Street which became their outright property on the death of E.J. Dent in 1857. Following the death of her husband in 1857, Marianna Frederica continued the business under her own name, although she re-married Samuel Ward Fuller in 1860. In 1862, M.F. Dent showed a selection of watches at the International Exhibition and again at the Paris Exhibition of 1867. On October 14, 1869, Marianna Frederica died of liver disease.