English 18K gold duplex made for the Chinese market Circa 1800

Gold, enamel and diamond set pocket watch by William Ilbery
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A very fine English 18 carat gold, enamel and diamond set open faced key wound duplex pocket watch made for the Chinese market, circa 1800. The gilded bridge movement with a duplex escapement, lavishly engraved with ornaments, a diamond rose as capstone and a flat spiral, winding and hand setting through a key. White enamel dial with Roman hour numerals, outer minute divisions, Arabic quarter hours and original gold hands. The case back with blue guilloché enamel and central stone setting with diamond roses, both bezels, pendant and bow are decorated with opaque light blue and white enamel and translucent red enamel. Case and movement numbered. Comes with the original key.
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Diameter: 58 mm
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Weight: 158 g
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Signed: William Ilbery London
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William Ilbery, circa 1760-1839, was active in London from 1780 in Goswell Street, he moved to Duncan Terrace towards the end of the 18th century. After James Cox in London and Jaquet-Droz in Switzerland, he also specialized in producing luxury watches for the Chinese market.

His early production was very much in the English style, featuring a full plate movement and an English type single wheel duplex escapement. However, for his highest quality watches, he incorporated a spring detent escapement. Later, the watch movements he produced were much inspired by the Lépine caliber with a free standing barrel, as were Jaquet-Droz’s Swiss production signed in London and that of William Anthony, who worked in London. The cases of his watches were sumptuously decorated by the best Genevan enamellers, such as Jean-Francois-Victor Dupont, who usually signed his work, and Jean-Louis Richter, who signed rarely.

He organized the production in Switzerland, mainly in Fleurier, of profusely engraved movements for the Asian market. He was followed in this by makers such as Bovet and Juvet who also worked in Fleurier (Val de Travers). Ilbery can therefore be considered one of the most representative makers of ‘Chinese’ watches. He seems to have maintained close contacts with the continental trade since a watch signed ‘Ilbery Paris’ is known while Ilbery & Son are recorded in London and Fleurier, as well as in Canton.