English gold duplex watch diamond and pearls Circa 1796

Gold and multi coloured enamel pocket watch
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Important and historically interesting, gold and enamel pocket watch, set with diamonds and oriental pearls by William Anthony London, probably from the possession of the Russian Tsar Pavel I., circa 1796.
An 18 carat pink gold, exquisite oriental pearls studded on both sides, multi coloured enamel on the back case, monogram M with a crown of czar and garland in the centre, dome signed and numbered, extremely rare, elaborately engraved and gilded, highly interesting duplex movement with diamond endstone, additional stoppable central second hand.
Undamaged enamel dial, original solid golden hands, blued steel second hand, excellent condition, nearly unused, movement intact, revision recommended.
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Diameter: 65,5 mm
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Weight: 162 g
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Signed:  William Anthony   London
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The watch is a collector’s piece of museum quality. According to the knowledge of the owner, this watch is highly probable a gift given by Maria Fyodorovna to her husband, Pavel I., on the occasion of his coronation to be the Russian Tsar, which could be interpreted from the monogram “M”. The watch, therefore, belonged to a wealthy Russian family until the 90s, after it was given by the tsarist family with other valuable objects of art before the fall of the Tsar empire. The family settled in England in the 90s and the watch was sold to a European collector. It is well known that Pavel I. and his wife had a passion for etiquette and treasures. They travelled around Europe and collected luxurious presents for their collection, for example by King Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette. Watches by William Anthony very rarely appear on the market.
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From a study of the public collections and the auction market, we learn that only 17 oval watches and 15 round watches are known to exist. Most of them were or still are part of famous collections, for example, the Collection of King Farouk of Egypt, The Sir David Salomon Collection, the Marryat Collection, the Sandoz Collection at Musée du Locle, the Lord Sandberg Collection and the Patek Philippe Museum. Oval watch by William Anthony was sold as part of the Berlin Collection in November 1979 at Sotheby’s in London; Lot 100 was the most expensive piece of the auction as well as the most expensive watch of the year. Another oval enamel watch by William Anthony was sold at a London auction of Sotheby’s in 2016 for 212,500GBP, about 250,000 €. , another watch decorated in the same way as this watch, blue and red guilloché enamel, studded with oriental pearl and diamond. The recent “sister watch” by William Anthony was auctioned in London at Duke’s for 155.350GBP, circa.185.000€, this watch was very similar in decoration as the one here! With its historical background and perfect condition, this watch is one of the most valuable watches ever made by William Anthony!