In 1841, Dent's revered ability to make the finest domestic timepieces brought the company a Royal Warrant as the official watch and clockmaker to Her Majesty Queen Victoria and HRH Albert Prince of Wales.

Dent was also able to demonstrate its skill in the architectural arena for Queen Victoria, constructing the Palace Clock at Balmoral in 1857. Described by Her Majesty as “my dear paradise in the Highlands”, Balmoral is still kept on time by Dent's creation.

Following Queen Victoria's death, on Tuesday 22 January 1901, many Dent pocket watches were engraved with the inscription “Watchmaker to her late Majesty”. Nevertheless, Dent's Royal Warrant was renewed by Edward VII and George V.

The 21st century has seen a revival of the iconic Dent brand. This British company is rising to the heights of horological excellence achieved by so many members of the Dent family. And once again the British royal family has acknowledged its craft.

A magnificent Great Wheel Skeleton clock presented to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II in November 2007 can be found in the Garden Room at Buckingham Palace.

There's even a Dent aboard Cunard's MS Queen Victoria luxury cruise liner. A bespoke cast iron pillar clock is the centrepiece of the stairwell in the vessel's Royal Arcade. The clock dial features the Cunard company crest and the Westminster Chimes strike quarterly and on the hour.

In 1856, Dent was presented with the Great Silver Medal, by King William III of the Netherlands (below left), for the excellence of its timepieces.

19th century Russian Emperors Tsar Alexander III and Tsar Nicholas II (above right) appointed Dent by Royal Warrant to construct precision chronometers.

His Majesty Emperor Meiji (below left) – ruler of Japan during its political, social, and industrial revolution of the late 19th centurty – granted Dent a Royal Warrant.

Mozaffar al-Din Shah Qajar, the fifth Qajarid Shah of Persia (above right), granted Dent a Royal Warrant in 1904.