Watch, duplex watch

This duplex pocket watch was made by William Ilbery, a watchmaker who specialised in making fine enamelled watches for export to China and the Far East. Ilbery was one of the first London manufacturers to produce watches in the style known as 'la montre chinoise' ('the Chinese watch'). His original workshop was located on Goswell Street in the City of London. At some point during this period Ilbery took on his son as a business partner. Ilbery imported watch movements from Switzerland where he had an address in Fleurier. The Ilbery firm also had an office in the port city of Canton, China.

The duplex escapement was in widespread use in England from the late eighteenth century until around 1860. It was patented in 1782 by the Clerkenwell watchmaker, Thomas Tyrer. Most fine quality pocket watches made in the first half of the nineteenth century featured this mechanism. Ilbery recorded serial numbers on the movements of his watches. This watch is marked with the number '2394'.