French gold two-train quarter repeating pocket watch Circa 1820

Gold open faced cylinder
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A very rare French, 18K gold two-train quarter repeating pocket watch, circa 1820.
An Empire case, reeded band and borders. Hinged gilt cuvette with apertures for the winding and hand-setting buttons. Champagne, engine-turned dial, black painted radial Roman numerals, outer minute track and blued steel Breguet hands. Matte gilt movement, standing barrel for winding, ruby cylinder escapement, gilt three-arm balance with pare-chute on the upper pivot, flat balance spring, bimetallic temperature compensation curb on the blued steel index regulator, repeating on gongs activated by depressing the pendant. Cuvette signed.
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Diameter: 52 mm
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Thickness: 15 mm
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Signed: Leroy  Paris
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Le Roy et Fils was a renowned French watch manufacturer based in Paris. Bazile-Charles Leroy founded the company, later renamed Le Roy et Fils, in 1828 when his son, Louis-Charles Le Roy, became its co-owner. From 1829, the company worked as a court clockmaker for the Dukes of Bourbon and Chartres. In 1845, Louis-Charles sold the company to Georges Casimir Halley des Fontaines, but the name remained unchanged.
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Although the company’s owners changed several times, the name remained the same. Le Roy et Fils was only closed in 1980. The company was known for producing high-quality pocket watches and marine chronometers. In 1879, Louis Leroy joined the company as a watchmaker and later took over the company with Jules Halley des Fontaines, changing the name to L. Leroy & Cie. In 1895, Louis’ brother, Léon Leroy, also joined the company and became a partner in 1914.