English repeating grande/petite sonnerie watch, Circa 1880

Gold quarter repeater made for the Indian market
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A very fine and rare English 18K gold keyless hunting cased pocket watch, made for the Indian market circa 1880. With two-train, grande et petite sonnerie clock watch with trip quarter repeating, with black dial and original spare dial, in original leather fitted box. An engine-turned bassine, hinged gold cuvette. Black enamel dial, gilt radial Roman numerals, gilt outer minute track, subsidiary seconds. Gold spade hands. There is an original spare dial of white enamel with Roman numerals.

A maillechort movement, Geneva striping decoration, 34 jewels, two-train, Mairet tandem winding, straight-line calibrated and counterpoised lever escapement, cut bimetallic compensation balance with Breguet balance spring, repeating on gongs activated by tripping a small slide at 7 o’clock, switch lever from grande to petite sonnerie at 6 o’clock, striking/silence at 11 o’clock in the bezel. Dials signed.
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Diameter: 52 mm
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Signed: J.W. Benson  London
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Pocket watches with a black dial are very unusual.