Watch

This triple-cased pocket watch was made in London for export to Turkey. The sizeable Turkish export trade in clocks and watches developed in London in the 1680s. Lucrative foreign sales encouraged major capital investment in the capital's clock and watchmaking industry. London achieved international supremacy in the trade by the late eighteenth century.

The original partnership of James Markwick (c. 1662-1730, Master of the Clockmakers’ Company in 1720) and his son-in-law Robert Markham (d. 1741) specialised in making high quality products for the Turkish market. After Robert Markham's death the firm continued to trade under the name 'Markwick, Markham' and took on several partners, including Story, until it ceased to exist in the 1820s.

This watch features Turkish numerals on the enamelled dial. The elaborate decoration on the outer case was intended to appeal to the tastes of wealthy Turkish clients. It features patterns in coloured enamel around the border. The gold middle case is also decorated with a rope-twist border in coloured enamel whilst the gold inner case has a winding hole on the back.