Geneva, Nov 09, 2025
LOT 432
ILBERY LONDON, SWITZERLAND, POCKET WATCH MADE FOR THE CHINESE MARKET, THE ENAMEL ATTRIBUTABLE TO JEAN-LOUIS RICHTER, GOLD AND ENAMEL
CHF 20,000 - 40,000
HKD 196,000 - 390,000 / USD 25,000 - 50,000 / EUR 21,500 - 43,000 / JPY 3,800,000 - 7,590,000
Sold: CHF 21,250
A very fine and rare, 18k gold and enamel, manual wind open-face, key-winding pocket watch, white enamel dial and subsidiary seconds at 6, gold hands. Spring-loaded case back finely painted on enamel depicting a scene of childrens and a hound playing in a garden, attributed to Jean-Louis Richter, champlevé enamel bezels, pendant and bow.
| Grading System | |
|---|---|
Grade: AAA |
Excellent |
Case: 3-25 |
Good Chipped |
Movement: 3-6* |
Good Slightly oxidized Overhaul recommended, at buyer's expense |
Dial: 3-71-01 |
Good ENAMEL AND VARIOUS TYPES OF DECORATION Hairlines HANDS Original |
Brand Ilbery London, Switzerland
Year Circa 1810
Movement No. 6350
Diameter 60 mm.
Caliber 50 mm., gilt brass, fully engraved Chinese calibre with free standing barrel, single wheel duplex escapement, monometallic balance with large segmental sliding weights and steel poising screws and blued steel flat hairspring, diamond end-stone.
Weight 157 gr.
Signature Movement
Notes
Active in London from 1780 in Goswell Street, he moved to Duncan Terrace towards the end of the 18th century. Following James Cox in London and Jaquet Droz in Switzerland, he also specialised 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.