Important Modern & Vintage Timepieces

Geneva, Mar 15, 2015

LOT 78

LEPINE WATCH & CHATELAINE GOLD & ENAMEL Lepine A Paris. Made circa 1770. Fine and rare, gold and enamel pendant watch with a gilt-metal chatelaine with two hardstone-set keys and two seals.

CHF 1,500 - 2,500

HKD 12,500 - 21,000 / USD 1,600 - 2,700

Sold: CHF 2,000

Two-body, "Louis XV", beaded bezel, the back decorated with a band of translucent green guilloche enamel, the center and border decorated with chased gold foliage set with seed pearls and cabochon green stones, outer border to match the bezel. White enamel, radial Arabic numerals, outer minute track with five-minute Arabic numerals. Gold Louis XV hands. 33 mm. hinged, frosted gilt full plate with conical pillars, fusee and chain, verge escapement with micrometric potence adjustment, three-arm brass balance with blued steel flat balance spring, index regulator with silver scale, continental-type foliate pierced cock, polished steel endplate.


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Grading System
Grade: AA

Very good
Case: 2

Very good
Movement: 3*

Good

Overhaul recommended, at buyer's expense
Dial: 2-01

Very good

HANDS Original

Notes

Dial and movement signed. DIAM. 42 mm. JEAN ANTOINE LÉPINE (1720-1814) was born on 18 November 1720 at Challex, a small village a few kilometers north of Geneva. After having worked for some time at the establishment of Decrose, in the Grand Saconnex, also in the Geneva suburbs. He arrived in Paris in 1744. A workman for André Charles Caron, "Horloger du Roi" and father of Beaumarchais. He married his employer's daughter in 1756 and was received Master in 1765 He was named "Horloger du Roi" (King's Clockmaker) circa 1765. In 1766 he succeeded Caron, and appears on the list of Paris clockmakers of that year as: Jean-Antoine Lépine, Hger du Roy, rue Saint Denis, Place Saint Eustache. In 1772, Lépine settled in the Place Dauphine; in 1778- 1779, he moved to Quai de l'Horloge du Palais; to the rue des Fossés Saint Germain l'Auxerrois near the Louvre in 1781; and finally to 12 Place des Victoires, in 1789.