Exceptional Horological Sale Celebrat...

Hotel Noga Hilton, Geneva, Apr 24, 2004

LOT 110

The Butterfly Lepine, Invenit et fecit, No. 5647, "M", circa 1788. Very fine and very rare, 18K gold and enamel, pearl-set á toc quarter-repeating watch.

CHF 14,000 - 20,000

EUR 8,800 - 20,000 / USD 11,000 - 15,600

C. Double-body, of Lepine type, by master casemaker Guillaume Mermillod, back painted on enamel with a butterfly over basket of flowers, gold paillon frame, pearl-set bezels, opening by twisting the pendant, fixed front bezel. Gilt brass hinged cuvette signed "Lépine, horloger du Roy à Paris".D. White enamel with alternating Roman and Arabic numerals and outer minute ring, the number "1" in an oval frame. Blued-steel Breguet hands.M. 43 mm. (19???), gilt brass, early Lepine caliber with free-standing barrel, cylinder escapement, plain brass three-arm balance, flat balance spring, Lepine repetition system with LeRoy?s anchor governor, repeating by two polished hammers on the movement adapter ring by depressing the pendant. Signed on the dial and the cuvette.Diam. 52 mm.


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Grading System
Grade: AAA

Excellent
Case: 3

Good
Movement: 4 - 5 - 6 - 15*
Dial: 3 - 28 - 05

Notes

This watch is a good early example of Lepine?s work in his classical period between 1772-1792 with his special dial, his repetition system and unusual enamel decoration.