Daniel Quare, London

• gilt full plate movement, verge escapement, pierced and decoratively floral engraved balance cock, flat steel balance, fusee and chain, jewelled escape wheel pivots and verge with diamond end-stones, baluster pillars, independent rack quarter strike having a barrel with decorative engraving and two hammers, quarter repeating with two further hammers, all to a bell to the inside case back • gold champlevé dial, Roman numerals, inner half hour divisions, outer Arabic minute track, aperture for regulation with square at 11 o'clock, blued steel poker minute hand and tulip hour hand • gold inner case, pierced and engraved band with floral engraved decoration inhabited by birds, numbered below the pendant, strike silent lever beneath the bezel at 9 o'clock, pulse piece at 5 o'clock • gold outer case, the back centred with a cipher possibly that of John Campbell 2^nd Duke of Argyll, flanked by two putti holding aloft a Ducal coronet, both bezels with decorative pierced roundels and pierced scrolling foliage inhabited by birds, square hinge, inner case with maker's mark WI for William Jaques, outer case with maker's mark WG probably for William Ginn • movement and dial signed D. Quare London, movement and case numbered 324

Terence Camerer Cuss, Antiquarian Horology, Volume 33, no. 6, December 2012

Movement running, striking and repeating at time of cataloguing. The strike/silent lever operational. Dial in good clean condition with some minor losses to the waxed infill of the numerals. The inner case with small indentation to back, the pierced decoration retaining good definition, one of the birds with minor hairline crack. The central scene to the case back with indentations to the surface and rubbing/wear to the engraving; pierced panels retain good definition.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. All dimensions in catalogue descriptions are approximate. Condition reports may not specify mechanical replacements or imperfections to the movement, case, dial, pendulum, separate base(s) or dome. Watches in water-resistant cases have been opened to examine movements but no warranties are made that the watches are currently water-resistant. Please note that we do not guarantee the authenticity of any individual component parts, such as wheels, hands, crowns, crystals, screws, bracelets and leather bands, since subsequent repairs and restoration work may have resulted in the replacement of original parts. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue. In particular, please note it is the purchaser's responsibility to comply with any applicable import and export matters, particularly in relation to lots incorporating materials from endangered species.NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

**Please be advised that bands made of materials derived from endangered or otherwise protected species (i.e. alligator and crocodile) are not sold with the watches and are for display purposes only. We reserve the right to remove these bands prior to shipping.

Important Notice regarding importation into the United States of Rolex watches
Sotheby's cannot arrange for the delivery of Rolex watches to the United States because U.S. laws restricts the import of Rolex watches. The buyer or a designated agent may collect the property in the country of sale."

This is an important and, until recently, unrecorded, early 18^th century watch. On first inspection, the proportions of this watch appear to be relatively standard for the period of its production. However, the case does have a significant depth which is necessitated by the extraordinary complexity of the movement. The rack quarter striking and quarter repeating work are independent from one another, each with their own train, hammers and spring barrels. Designing and constructing a watch of this complexity within such a limited space would have taken a considerable amount of skill and time, perhaps as much as 2 years. It is also notable that the watch is jewelled with pierced rubies and diamond endstones to the top and bottom of the verge, in addition to the potence and counter potence of the escape wheel. Jewelling of this type, at such an early date, denotes yet another level of refinement and sophistication. Research suggests that no other watch of similar size, with quarter repeating and rack quarter striking has survived from this or any earlier period, indeed, one comparable is a considerably later watch by Windmills, no. 8273 which dates to circa 1725. Furthermore, only one other watch with a jewelled escape wheel, potence and counter potence of similar date (hallmarked 1714-15) and also by Quare, is thought to have survived (Quare no. 4108, formerly in the Prestige collection). The placement of the regulator aperture to the dial at 11 o’clock should also be noted. Remarkably, the regulator arbor runs from front to back without obstruction. 

Research carried out by the Chester Herald at the College of Arms, suggested that the cipher to the outside of the outer case is likely to be that of John Campbell, 2nd Duke of Argyll (1678-1743). Campbell was a very wealthy and powerful individual who succeeded to his title in 1703, supported the Act of Union (ratified in 1707) fought under Marlborough in the War of Spanish succession, became a Knight of the Garter in 1710, commanded British forces in Spain in 1711 and was Governor of Minorca 1712-1716. He is buried in Westminster Abbey.  See Antiquarian Horology, Volume 33, no. 6, December 2012.

Daniel Quare (1649-1724) was born in Somerset. A highly esteemed watchmaker of his day, Quare was admitted to the Clockmakers' Company in 1671 and became Master in 1708. In 1680 he invented a type of repeating work for watches. In 1718 he went into partnership with Stephen Horseman, after which their work was signed 'Quare & Horseman'. Known watches signed by Quare have numbers 233 to 4989. Repeating watches had a separate series known from 109 to 857.