English gold and enamel centre seconds duplex Circa 1820

Gold duplex with open face for the Chinese market by Ilbery
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An English 18 carat gold and enamel open faced centre seconds pocket watch made for the Chinese market, circa 1820.
Round-shaped case, the back decorated with a geometric crosshatched pattern on a black ground. White enamel dial with radial Roman hours, outer minutes/seconds track with Arabic fifteen minutes/seconds numerals, centre seconds and spade hands. Gilded brass movement engraved in Chinese style, key-winding, going barrel, duplex escapement, monometallic balance, blued steel flat hairspring and diamond end-stone. Movement signed.
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Diameter: 58.5 mm
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Signed: 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 calibre 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.