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J.A. Lepine Repeating Pocket w/ VIRGULE Escapement Pocket Watch in 18k Gold & Lapis Lazuli Case
Price: $6 900
Rare quarter repeating watch by J.A. Lépine.
Diameter is 40mm, weight is 52 grams.
This watch is illustrated in book by A. Chapiro "J.A. Lépine", p. 10-19 and 10-96. Serial number allows to date it to late 1770s.
The design principles of Jean Antoine Lepine revolutionised watchmaking industry in the late XVIII century and this watch illustrates many essential novelties, presented by master already in 1770s.
The movement features classical period Lépine calibre of bridge design and free-standing barrel without fusee, virgule escapement.
Watch also features dumb quarter repeater.
J.A. Lépine was the first maker in France to use Arabic numerals for the hours in place of the traditional Roman chapters. This watch is a good example of this new style of dial.
Dial is signed by Lepine "Invenit et Fecit" - Invented and Made.
Watch features Lepine's special opening mechanism activated by twisting the pendant.
The case itself is a luxury piece, the back cover is decorated with highest quality lapis-lazuli with nice pyrite inclusions and half-pearls.
Bow, pendant and hands are decorated with diamonds of rose cut.
Jean-Antoine Lépine was born in 1720 in the suburbs of Geneva, and arrived in Paris in 1744. A workman for André Charles Caron, King's Clockmaker, he married his employer's daughter in 1756 and was received Master in 1765. He was appointed "Horloger du Roi" (King's Clockmaker) about 1765 and already in 1766 he succeeded Caron.
In 1763 J.A. Lépine invented a new repeating mechanism for watches.
About 1770 he invented a new caliber, of a revolutionary conception, replacing the rear plate by bridges. The different moving parts could thenceforward be dismounted separately, which made maintenance and repair much easier.
Also, the use of a dead-beat escapement, less sensitive to variations in the driving force than the recoil escapement hitherto in use, allowed him to suppress the fusee.
This new layout was improved by Breguet who adopted it from 1790 for most of his watches.
Lépine was responsible for a number of other inventions, one of them being the virgule escapement (used in this watch), a simplification of the double virgule escapement invented by his father-in-law and used by his brother-in-law Pierre Augustin Caron (who became famous under the name of Beaumarchais).
Lépine and Breguet
As it's known, A.L. Breguet arrived in Paris in 1762 and staged at "watchmaker, very reputed in Paris". While the name of this watchmaker wasn't revealed exactly, A. Chapiro in his book on "J.A. Lépine" makes educated guess that it's probably J.A. Lépine.
He analyses early works of Breguet and underlines the same technical and aesthetical decisions of two masters in 1780-1790s, as well a overall influence of Lepine to Breguet works.
Besides, when A.L. Breguet installed his own workshop in 1775, his first address at Quai de l'Horloge was virtually next door to Lépine's workshop.
Breguet closely collaborated with Lépine, the company books keep records on purchasing movements from Lépine and performing watches "a-la Lépine".
Please see one of such Breguet watches sold by Antiqourum in 2009..
Condition
The watch appeared to be in good condition.
The dial seems to be flawless.
Movement is in working condition, tough time keeping is not tested.
Dumb repetition functions correctly.
Case is in good condition, with slight wear.
Beautiful original hands, mineral glass.
Rare and beautiful example of probably most important transition in watchmaking principles.
Diameter is 40mm, weight is 52 grams.
This watch is illustrated in book by A. Chapiro "J.A. Lépine", p. 10-19 and 10-96. Serial number allows to date it to late 1770s.
The design principles of Jean Antoine Lepine revolutionised watchmaking industry in the late XVIII century and this watch illustrates many essential novelties, presented by master already in 1770s.
The movement features classical period Lépine calibre of bridge design and free-standing barrel without fusee, virgule escapement.
Watch also features dumb quarter repeater.
J.A. Lépine was the first maker in France to use Arabic numerals for the hours in place of the traditional Roman chapters. This watch is a good example of this new style of dial.
Dial is signed by Lepine "Invenit et Fecit" - Invented and Made.
Watch features Lepine's special opening mechanism activated by twisting the pendant.
The case itself is a luxury piece, the back cover is decorated with highest quality lapis-lazuli with nice pyrite inclusions and half-pearls.
Bow, pendant and hands are decorated with diamonds of rose cut.
Jean-Antoine Lépine was born in 1720 in the suburbs of Geneva, and arrived in Paris in 1744. A workman for André Charles Caron, King's Clockmaker, he married his employer's daughter in 1756 and was received Master in 1765. He was appointed "Horloger du Roi" (King's Clockmaker) about 1765 and already in 1766 he succeeded Caron.
In 1763 J.A. Lépine invented a new repeating mechanism for watches.
About 1770 he invented a new caliber, of a revolutionary conception, replacing the rear plate by bridges. The different moving parts could thenceforward be dismounted separately, which made maintenance and repair much easier.
Also, the use of a dead-beat escapement, less sensitive to variations in the driving force than the recoil escapement hitherto in use, allowed him to suppress the fusee.
This new layout was improved by Breguet who adopted it from 1790 for most of his watches.
Lépine was responsible for a number of other inventions, one of them being the virgule escapement (used in this watch), a simplification of the double virgule escapement invented by his father-in-law and used by his brother-in-law Pierre Augustin Caron (who became famous under the name of Beaumarchais).
Lépine and Breguet
As it's known, A.L. Breguet arrived in Paris in 1762 and staged at "watchmaker, very reputed in Paris". While the name of this watchmaker wasn't revealed exactly, A. Chapiro in his book on "J.A. Lépine" makes educated guess that it's probably J.A. Lépine.
He analyses early works of Breguet and underlines the same technical and aesthetical decisions of two masters in 1780-1790s, as well a overall influence of Lepine to Breguet works.
Besides, when A.L. Breguet installed his own workshop in 1775, his first address at Quai de l'Horloge was virtually next door to Lépine's workshop.
Breguet closely collaborated with Lépine, the company books keep records on purchasing movements from Lépine and performing watches "a-la Lépine".
Please see one of such Breguet watches sold by Antiqourum in 2009..
Condition
The watch appeared to be in good condition.
The dial seems to be flawless.
Movement is in working condition, tough time keeping is not tested.
Dumb repetition functions correctly.
Case is in good condition, with slight wear.
Beautiful original hands, mineral glass.
Rare and beautiful example of probably most important transition in watchmaking principles.
Price: 6 900 USD
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