Important Watches, Collectors’ Wristw...

Hotel Noga Hilton, Nov 14, 2004

LOT 410

Lépine, Horloger du Roy, A Paris, No. 2193, circa 1775. Very fine and interesting, 18K gold quarter-repeating à toc pendant watch. Accompanied by gold chain and gold ratchet watch key.

CHF 6,000 - 8,000

EUR 4,000 - 5,000 / USD 5,000 - 6,500

Sold: CHF 9,775

C. Two-body, Lepine type with concealed hinge and opening via twisting the pendant, engine-turned back, bezels decorated with applied varicolored gold floral motives, hinged, gilt cuvette. D. White enamel, radial Arabic numerals, outer minute divisions with five-minute Arabic markers. Gold pierced hands. M. 31 mm (15'''), Lepine calibre with standing barrel with wolf teeth, cylinder escapement, three-arm gilt balance with flat balance spring, jeweled balance with diamond endstone, LeRoy?s anchor governor, repeating with two hammers on gold blocks inside the case by depressing the pendant.Dial and cuvette signed.Diam. 36 mm


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Grading System
Grade: AAA

Excellent
Case: 3

Good
Movement: 3*

Good

Overhaul recommended, at buyer's expense
Dial: 3 - 01

Notes

This watch features most of Lepine?s horological inventions: In 1763 he invented a new type of repeating mechanism in which the hour and quarter racks were placed directly on the winding arbor. The new design was a great improvement, eliminating the fragile winding chain. It also gave the system better stability, decreased friction, saved room and simplified the mechanism. This was a great improvement in repeating watches. The 1763 Mémoir of the Académie des Sciences, in the chapter "Machines ou inventions approuvées par l?Académie en 1763", gives a very favorable report of Lépine?s invention. This system is incorporated in this watch, which also features his other inventions: a wolf-tooth barrel - wolf teeth being considerably stronger than regular symmetrical ones, Lepine used them on the racks of most of his repetition work; a 2-piece case with concealed hinge, and elegant way of opening the case by twisting the pendant.