Important Collectors Watches, Pocket ...

Geneva, Mar 29, 2009

LOT 411

Royal Blue Lépine, Invenit et fecit, No. 5325, ?D?. Made circa 1788. Very fine and very rare, 18K gold and enamel, à toc quarter-repeating pocket watch with Lépine?s special opening mechanism.

CHF 7,500 - 10,000

USD 6,500 - 8,500 / EUR 5,000 - 6,700

C. Double-body, of Lépine type, back overlaid with royal blue guilloche enamel, applied gold decoration and gold paillon border and bezel, opening by twisting the pendant, fixed front bezel. Gilt brass hinged cuvette signed ?Lépine, horloger du Roy à Paris?. D. White enamel with dauphine numerals, outer dot minute divisions, red Arabic five-minute numerals. Blued-steel Breguet hands. M. 41 mm., 18???, gilt brass, early Lépine caliber with free-standing barrel, cylinder escapement, plain gold three-arm balance, flat balance spring, index regulator, Lépine repetition system with Le Roy?s anchor governor, repeating by a single polished hammer on the movement adapter ring activated by depressing the pendant. Dial and cuvette signed. Diam. 52.5 mm.


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Grading System
Grade: AA

Very good
Case: 3-32

Good

Slightly restored
Movement: 2*

Very good

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

Very good

HANDS Original

Notes

The present watch is a very good example of Jean- Antoine Lépine?s work. The case with fixed bezel, the back opening by twisting the pendant, the distinctive form of Arabic numerals (which were to become fashionable until the Empire, and were used during the same period by Breguet). The movement illustrates all the characteristics associated with Lépine?s work.