404 - French - Royal Exchange London

French - Royal Exchange London A very fine, heavy London half-quarter repeating pocket watch with a duplex escapement Movement No. 3251, Dimensions 56 mm, circa 1825, Weight 178 g, Origin: England Case: 18K gold, smooth, fluted caseband, case maker’s punch mark “CLC”. Dial: Enamel, off-white. Movement: Full-plate movement, 2 hammers / 2 gongs, chain/fusee, screw-compensated balance, free-sprung blued balance spring. Santiago James Moore French is mentioned repeatedly in Tony Mercer’s *Chronometer Makers of the World*; Mercer lists him as one of the pioneers in the history of precision timekeeping, alongside eminent makers such as Arnold, Earnshaw, Dent, and Frodsham. Moore French worked from 1811 until at least 1865 at various locations in London, including Cornhill, Sweetings Alley, and the Royal Exchange. Case: very good. Dial: good, with hairline scratches. Movement: very good, capable of running, but needs cleaning.