English gold enamel watch for the Chinese market Circa 1795

Gold cylinder watch with enamel and pearls
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An extremely fine and large English, 18 Carat gold, enamel and pearl-set centre seconds pocket watch, circa 1795. Pearl of the Orient by William Anthony, London.
Made for the Chinese market, the movement was made in Switzerland, the case with London hallmarks for 1795 – 1796. A directoire case, the bezel decorated with split pearls with an imperial translucent blue enamel and white line border, the pendant decorated to match, the back cover overlaid with translucent imperial blue enamel over an engine-turned sunburst ground, central split pearl rosette, the border decorated to match the bezel. Spring-loaded hinged gold cuvette.
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White enamel dial with radial Roman numerals, outer minutes and seconds divisions, Arabic 15 second numerals. Gold Breguet hands with skeletonized tips. A frosted gilt movement, standing barrel, foliate engraved cock for the wheel train, cylinder escapement, three arm brass balance, flat blued steel balance spring, index regulator. Movement signed London, case punched with master marks AM/PD.
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Diameter: 61 mm
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Signed: William Anthony  London
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It is very rare to find a watch from this period and of this quality, in such exceptional condition. For a discussion of watches made for the Chinese market. William Anthony Born about 1765, William Anthony worked in Red Lion Street, St John’s Square, Clerkenwell, where he made high quality decorative watches for the Chinese market. Characteristics of his production are watches with oval dials and hands which are jointed so as to adjust automatically to the changing radius of the dial as they travel around. As a successful tradesman, Anthony played an active part in the founding of the Watch- and Clockmakers’ Benevolent Association in 1815, but thereafter suffered a series of losses following unsuccessful litigation with Grimaldi & Johnson and an ill fated attempt to set up a commercial exhibition in the Somerset Gallery, Strand, of Commonwealth and Stuart costume, displayed on wax models. He died in straitened circumstances in 1844.