Repeating watch in silver-gilt case. Thirty hour duration, four pillar, gilt brass, capped fusee movement with verge escapement. Brass balance with blued-steel, flat spiral balance spring. Pierced and engraved balance cock with diamond endstone in polished steel setting. Tompion style regulator with silver regulating disc with engraved Roman numerals I to VI. Push pendant quarter repeating mechanism operating two hammers on a single bell. Pulse piece protruding through inner case at V. Potence plate signed 'T Windmills', 'LONDON' and '8355'. Gilt brass cap signed 'Tho Windmills', 'LONDON' and '8355'. Bell Scratched inside with '110-245' and on the outside with 'William Wyld(?) London'. Convex white enamel dial with black Roman hour numerals, minute circle and Arabic five minute numerals. Blued-steel beetle and poker hands. Convex glass over dial. Inner silver-gilt case having geometric pieced and engraved decoration to band with central floral engraved motif. Round section silver-gilt push pendant with wide stirrup bow. Stamped inside inner case back incuse with 'DALA' and 'C105'. Bezel scratched inside with 'Emx litt'. Outer case but without provision for pulse piece has ornate pierced and chased repousee decoration depicting Britannia and her navigators within a raised scroll border. The dial, pendant and bow and hands and outer case are all later replacements, circa 1780. The watch belonged to Admiral Sir George Byng, Lord Torrington. Thomas Windmills (circa 1672-1737), the maker was the son of the famous London maker Joseph Windmills. Thomas Windmills joined the Clockmakers Company in 1695, becoming master in 1718.
Credit: National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, London