Rare, early English silver astronomical verge watch Circa 1690

Silver astronomical watch probably by Daniel Quare
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An English, silver astronomical verge watch with indications for the date, month, phase and age of the moon, signs of the zodiac and periods of the day, circa 1690. This watch features a gilded full plate movement with a verge escapement, broad decoratively pierced balance cock and foot with scrolling foliage, plain flat balance with spring, silver regulation disc, fusee and chain, pierced tulip pillars, and is signed Quare, London. The gilded dial has a stippled ground, three silver chapter rings for date (lacking hand), time with blued steel hand, and moon age indicated via a pointer mounted on a silver disc chased and engraved with stars, with a circular aperture to reveal the moon phases. It also has three further apertures for signs of the zodiac with corresponding ruling planet, month with engraved seasonal vignettes, and periods of the day with the changing sky. The watch has a plain silver case with a shuttered winding aperture on the case back. The pendant has a plain ring and the maker’s mark ST, along with another indistinct mark.
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Diameter: 54.5 mm
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Signed: Quare London
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Daniel Quare was a highly esteemed English watchmaker. Born circa 1647 in Somerset and died August 1724. He was admitted to the Clockmakers’ Company in 1671, becoming a master in 1708. Quare established himself as an important horological innovator by inventing a type of repeating work around 1680. Whilst he was developing his repeating mechanism, his rival, Edward Barlow, was developing his version. Barlow had invented the rack form of striking in 1676 and, in 1685, Thomas Tompion made a watch for Barlow that incorporated the latter’s repeating system. Three years later, in 1688, Quare and Barlow presented their different forms of repeating watches to King James II so that he might declare which he regarded the superior. The King favoured Quare’s form, noting that Barlow’s required two pushers, one for the hour strike and one for the quarters, whilst Quare’s single push-piece activated both the hours and quarters.
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Daniel Quare’s reputation during his lifetime was so esteemed that other watchmakers would sometimes falsely attribute their watches to him to benefit from his prestigious name.
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The dial decoration remains clear, but there is tarnishing on the silver. The hand-for-date indication is missing. The silver case is tarnished, with some light depressions on the surface as expected. The cover closes and catches, but the closure is slightly loose. The movement is running, but the gilding has dulled with some scratching and a little rubbing to the finish.