the gilt full plate movement with duplex escapement, three-arm steel balance with compensation curb and diamond endstone, part foliate engraved including balance cock with mask, engraved 'RUNDELL, BRIDGE / & RUNDELL, LONDON' and numbered 4966, the gold matted dial applied with burnished gold Roman numerals within pellet minute indicators and a subsidiary seconds dial, with gold spade and stick hands, the open faced case with polished cuvette engraved 'THE GIFT OF / His Majesty King George the 4th. / TO TIMOTHY BRENT ESQr. / 1st. January 1824', with engine-turned back cover, knurled band and push pendant repeat mechanism, cuvette and back correspondingly numbered 4966 and 18 carat gold hallmarked with incuse casemaker's mark AN, London, 1815, 53mm diameter

Provenance: given by George IV to Timothy Brent (1758-1833), apparently as a New Year’s Day gift. Timothy Brent made his fortune as an Army Agent. Connected to the Royal Household, he became a Secretary to the Board of Green Cloth by at least 1822 and Surveyor General to the Duchy of Cornwall probably in 1829. Dying childless, his heir was his nephew, William Brent Brent (1786-1857). Thence by family descent to the vendor.

The famous firm of Rundell, Bridge & Rundell were royal goldsmiths, suppliers to the court of all manner of plate, jewellery and watches. Given the disparity between the date of assay and the presentation date, it would seem the chronically indebted George IV may have ‘re-admin’ed’ a watch already in his possession, when giving Timothy Brent this present.