The Private Collection of Theodor Beyer
Hotel Baur Au Lac, Zurich, Nov 16, 2003
LOT 32
Fournier, Geneva, No. 4390, circa 1790. Very fine 20K gold quarter-repeating à toc watch with virgule escapement.
CHF 15,000 - 20,000
EUR 9,800 - 13,000 / USD 11,000 - 15,000
C. Two-body, "Directoire", polished, hinged gilt cuvette with winding aperture. D. White enamel, Breguet numerals, outer minute divisions. Gold Breguet hands. M. 51 mm (22 1/2'''), gilt brass, Lepine caliber, free-standing barrel, virgule escapement, plain three-arm gilt balance, flat balance spring, repeating on the case by two hammers via plunge piston in the pendant.Dial and cuvette signed.Diam. 57 mm.
| Grading System | |
|---|---|
Grade: AAA |
Excellent |
Case: 3 |
Good |
Movement: 3-22* |
Good Later original Overhaul recommended, at buyer's expense |
Dial: 3-03 |
Good HANDS Period |
Notes
This watch is an excellent example of a compicated Lépine caliber, illustrating Lépine's main inventions: the caliber with free-standing barrel, linear stop-work, repeat system and virgule escapement. These characteristics, as well as the quality of the movement's finishing strongly suggest that the ebauche was furnished by Lépine. Jean-Louis Fournier. The son of Jean-Pierre, he was from Rolle, and became a "habitant" of Geneva in 1762. Fournier was a "Compagnon horloger"."Dictionnaire des horlogers genevois", by Osvaldo Patrizzi, Antiquorum Editions, 1998.