French 18 carat gold, silver and enamel watch Circa 1800

Extremely large enamel Lépine pocket watch
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An extremely large enamel Lépine watch with special movement, attributed to Louis Keisser in Grenoble, France, circa 1800. This watch features a case crafted from 18 carat gold and silver, bearing the punch of the casemaker Tavernier. The dial features an outer minute and hour track with Arabic 15 minute and hour numerals and the original hands. The extremely rare and unusually constructed movement is equipped with an extremely flat verge escapement.
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Diameter: 61 mm
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Weight: 118 g
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Signed: No name
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Keisser
Louis Keisser, born on September 11, 1774, was a pocket watchmaker of the elite, a highly specialised artisan who operated during the golden age of French horology. He operated primarily during the French Directory (1795–1799) and the Early Napoleonic Empire (1804–1815), with his peak output occurring around 1800. Because he ran a small, independent workshop rather than a large factory, documented details of his life are sparse, but his legacy survives entirely through the exceptional quality of his surviving timepieces.
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Tavernier
The Tavernier Dynasty’s reputation was built over several generations. Jean-Pierre Tavernier (1714–1795) was a master clockmaker who established the family’s prestige in Paris. Pierre-Benjamin Tavernier was the most notable case maker of the group, who worked closely with Breguet during the late 1700’s and early 1800’s to define the aesthetic of modern luxury watches.