Rare French 18 carat gold repeating Lépine watch Circa 1795

Gold quarter repeater
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An exquisite and rare pocket watch with repeater made by Jean-Antoine Lépine in Paris, France, circa 1795. The open faced case of this watch, which is crafted from 18 carat gold, has a sunray back with an oval cartouche in the lower part monogrammed PP, a prominent coined band, the Paris 20K gold punch and a numbered cuvette. The white enamel dial has Arabic hour numerals, outer minute divisions, gold decorations and original steel moon hands. The typical movement construction has a Lépine cylinder escapement and repeaters the quarter hours.
The dial and cuvette are signed.
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Diameter: 54 mm
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Weight: 113 g
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Signed: Jean-Antoine Lépine in Paris, France
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Timepieces from the workshops of Jean-Antoine Lépine are just as wanted today as watches by Breguet and Berthoud. He delivered this watch to Leroy, which is why it bears his vendor’s signature.

Lépine was born in Challex (France) on 18 November 1720. Around 1750, he developed the virgule escapement. In 1762, he successfully passed his master’s examination and was appointed royal court watchmaker in 1766, still under Louis XV. He retained this title under Louis XVI and Napoleon. Jean Antoine Lépine is considered a master of the use of space. Among other things, he improved the construction of the mainspring barrel by toothing it and thus eliminating the need for a chain and fusee drive. This made it possible to build very flat watches, which were also named after him.