Ilbery

• gilt duplex movement, five arm balance wheel, plates engraved with floral decorations, standing barrel, signed and numbered • white enamel, Roman and Arabic numerals, centre seconds • octagonal case with gold frame inset with various coloured agate panels, the bow and outer bezel decorated with polychrome enamel motifs, the back set with a border of split pearls, matching pair of keys • signed and numbered on the movement • fitted presentation case

William Ilbery is most commonly known as a fine maker of watches for the Chinese market, is also credited for rare examples made of moss agate such as this present example made in a pair. Like many of his watches, Ilbery used finely engraved movements incorporating duplex escapement and the outer case set with pearls.

For similar watches see Sotheby's London, The Belin Collection, November 29, 1979, lot 98 and Sotheby's New York, Masterpieces from the Time Museum, December 2, 1999, lot 29. A pair of hard-stone hexagonal watches for the Chinese market made by William Ilbery is also in The Patek Philippe Museum, Geneva, now part of the exhibition 'The Mirror of Seduction'.