Impressive English half quarter repeating lever watch Circa 1870

Gold, enamel, and diamond set watch by Frazer & Haws
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An impressive English gold, enamel, and diamond set half quarter repeating hunting cased keyless lever watch, made for the Indian market, circa 1870. This unique watch features a frosted gilded 3/4 plate movement with lever escapement, jewelled centre, bimetallic compensation balance, diamond end-stone, and half-quarter repeating on coiled gongs. It is signed and numbered by Frazer & Haws, located at 31 Regent Street, London, with the serial number 12272. The gold dial is heavily chased and engraved with scrolling foliage, a star motif at the centre, black Roman numerals, a pearled outer minute track, two rings with applied vari-colour gold decoration depicting flowers and foliage, engine-turned subsidiary seconds, and blued steel fleur-de-lys hands.
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The 18k gold case features turquoise enamel with sun and star motifs accented by diamonds, and the inscription Heaven’s Light Our Guide. The case back is also adorned with turquoise enamel and diamond-set star, bow, and quatrefoil motifs. Additionally, the band and bezels are intricately decorated with geometric motifs. The recessed repeating slide and pusher for hand-setting are decorated to match. The gold cuvette is highly detailed, with roundels and quatrefoils adorned with translucent blue guilloché enamel. It is hallmarked for 1870 in London and bears the case maker’s mark RB within an oval cartouche, possibly belonging to Richard Macaire Ball.
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Diameter: 51 mm
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Signed: Frazer & Haws, London
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The movement is functioning and repeating on time. The dial features black Roman numerals with some minor losses to the black paint and some areas that have been touched up, but overall the engraved and applied decoration is in good condition. The case is in very good condition with vibrant, well-defined decoration, although a couple of diamonds are missing.
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Frazer and Hawes were active between 1875 and 1909, as listed by Loomes in Watchmakers and Clockmakers of the World. In The Horological Journal of April 1892, there is a charming reference to the firm, noting that “Frazer and Hawes have some pretty things.”
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The blazing sun and star motif seen here is the symbol of the Most Exalted Order of the Star of India, an order of chivalry founded in 1861 by Queen Victoria. After several years of upheaval and unrest against British colonisation in India, Great Britain successfully consolidated its power and established this order of knighthood to honour Indian princes and chiefs and British officers who aided the British Empire. The present piece also displays the motto of the order, “Heaven’s Light, Our Guide,” which was specifically neutral to appeal to people from many different faiths, as India was extremely religiously diverse.