L\'ART DE L\'HORLOGERIE EN FRANCE DE ...

Geneva, Hotel Des Bergues, Nov 14, 1993

LOT 78

Julien Le Roy à Paris, No. 3449, made by his son Pierre, circa 1758-1759. Extremely rare, perhaps unique, silver watch with an experimental escapement.

CHF 10,000 - 12,000

Sold: CHF 10,925

C. Contemporary, double body, Louis XV, polished. D. Contemporary, white enamel with Roman numerals and outer Arabic minute ring. Gold Louis XV hands. M. Hinged gilt brass full plate with cylindrical pillars, fusee \vith chain, highly unusual experimental escapement with two concentric wheels, the top one working on a steel semi-cylindrical pallet carried on the balance staff, the Tower one on a pallet similar to that of the verge escapement. Plain steel three-arm balance, flat balance spring, gilt brass continental cock pierced and engraved with the initiais "J.L.R.", garnet end-stone. Signed on the back plate. In good condition. Diam. 43 mm.


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Notes

This watch appears to be the earlier example with the cock pierced and engraved with the initiais "J. L.R.". According to the number, it would seem to have been produced, at least in ebauche form before the death of Julien Le Rov. However, as it is fitted with an experimental escapement, it was certainly completed after his death. Pierre Le Roy is reputed to have been the inventor of the duplex escapement, but to date, no example has been found. However this highlv unusual double wheel escapement must be an early attempt in this direction, as it incorporates all the functions associated with the single wheel duplex, perfected at the very end of the XVIIIth century. As such it represents a unique document in the history of the development of watch escapements.