French 18K gold quarter repeating à toc watch Circa 1788

Gold and enamel repeater with Lépine’s special opening mechanism
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A very fine and very rare French 18 carat gold and enamel à toc quarter repeating pocket watch with Lépine‘s special opening mechanism, circa 1788. The gilt brass early Lépine caliber movement with a freestanding barrel, cylinder escapement, plain gold three arm balance, flat balance spring, an index regulator and a Lépine repetition system with Le Roy’s anker governor, repeating by a single polished hammer on the movement adapter ring activated by depressing the pendant. White enamel dial with black dauphine hour numerals, outer dot minute divisions, red Arabic five minute numerals and original blued steel Breguet hands. The case back, overlaid with royal blue guilloché enamel, features applied gold decoration and a gold paillon border and bezel, opening by twisting the pendant and a fixed front bezel. A further hinged gilt brass cuvette signed Lépine horloger du Roy à Paris. Dial also signed.
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Diameter: 52.5 mm
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Signed: Lépine Invenit et Fecit
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This watch is a very good example of Jean-Antoine Lépine’s work. The case with a fixed bezel, the back opening by twisting the pendant, the distinctive form of the Arabic numerals (which were to become fashionable until replaced by Empire numerals and were used during the same period by Breguet). The movement illustrates all the characteristics associated with Lépine’s work.