French 18 carat gold and enamel Lépine watch Circa 1820

Very rare pocket watch with jumping hour
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A very rare gold and enamel Lépine pocket watch with jumping hour, made by Souriau & Boucher at Rue Feydeau No. 20 in Paris, France, circa 1820. This watch features an 18 carat gold case with the Paris gold punch, an intricately black enamelled back lid and a numbered cuvette. The guilloché enamelled dial features minute and hour windows with Arabic numerals and the very rare, ultra thin movement is equipped with a cylinder escapement and a jumping hour mechanism.
The dial and cuvette are signed.
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Diameter: 47 mm
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Weight: 54 g
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Signed: Boucher
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Souriau & Boucher

The history of the partnership between Souriau & Boucher represents a fascinating, ultra-luxury chapter of Parisian horology during the French Restoration (circa 1815–1825).

Operating from their boutique at Rue Feydeau No. 20, this brief corporate alliance was forged explicitly to cater to the highest echelons of French and visiting global aristocracy. A strategic business model, a prestigious cultural setting and a specialisation in groundbreaking mechanical novelties define their history.

The partnership was highly successful but relatively short lived, likely concluding by the late 1820’s or early 1830’s.

Following the dissolution of the partnership, Boucher continued working with his family, eventually setting up a separate workshop nearby under the name Boucher & Fils (Boucher & Son) at Rue Feydeau No. 25.

Souriau’s personal prestige continued to skyrocket, culminating in his royal appointment. When Souriau eventually retired, his highly valuable firm and royal legacy were bought out by the famous clockmaker Athanase Bourdin, who signed his subsequent masterpieces “Bourdin, Successeur de Souriau, Horloger du Roi” out of Rue de la Paix.