English centre seconds duplex for Chinese market Circa 1815

Gold, enamel and pearl set duplex with centre seconds by William Ilbery
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A very fine and very rare English 18 carat gold, enamel and pearl set open faced centre seconds duplex pocket watch made for the Chinese market, circa 1815. Gilt brass movement, Chinese calibre, fully engraved with floral decoration, standing barrel, single wheel duplex escapement, plain five armed polished steel balance, flat balance spring, diamond endstone, index regulator. Gold hinged cuvette engraved with scrolls and a central rosette. White enamel dial with Roman numerals, outer minute and seconds divisions, Arabic quarter hour numerals, original gold ovoid hands. Case back with a fine painted on enamel scene depicting the biblical story of the healing of the blind, band, pendant and bow decorated with green, red, pale blue and dark blue champlevé enameled decoration, bezels and bow set with split pearls.   Movement signed.
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Diameter: 58 mm
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Signed: Ilbery London
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William Ilbery (ca. 1760-1839). 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 the production of 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 Lepine caliber with 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 enamelers, 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 and Ilbery & Son are recorded in London and Fleurier, as well as in Canton.