It is very rare to find a precision chronometer watch made for the Oriental market. In addition, this watch employs an interesting overbanking protection device consisting of a spring lever which, when pushed by the overextended balance spring, reacts against a pin set on the balance arm, not allowing too excessive swings. It also features a rare form of spring detent escapement, the Peto cross detent, which, though initially invented to rival with the detent escapement patented for Earnshaw, was soon discovered to present important advantages. In the classic Earnshaw spring detent the locking force acts against the spring, which theoretically could be bent during each locking impulse, while in Peto?s construction the locking is done in the other direction, making the escapement more stable. The enamel scene is from a series with playing children. For another similar scene, entitled ?Feeding the Ducks?, see ?The Sandberg Watch Collection?, Antiquorum, March 31 and April 1, 2001, lot 371. William Ilbery (c. 1760-1839) 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 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 Peto cross detent escapement. Later, he used the standard bridge caliber with free-standing barrel, also called the ?Chinese?caliber. 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 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.