French extremely rare gold repeating virgule watch Circa 1787

Gold quarter repeater à toc
–
A French 18 carat gold open faced quarter repeating à toc key wind pocket watch with secret opening mechanism made by Jean-Antoine Lépine in Paris, circa 1787. The gilded brass movement features a virgule escapement with brass wheel, freestanding going barrel, monometallic balance with three special shaped gilt brass arms, blued steel flat hairspring and wolf’s tooth train, quarter repeating à toc by one large hammer. White enamel dial with black Arabic hours, an outer minute track with red Arabic five minute numerals and gold skeletonized Fleur de Lys hands, it is signed Lépine Invenit et Fecit. Polished case with a fixed bezel on the front, concealed hinges, a pusher for repetition via the pendant and a special opening mechanism through turning the pendant, it bears the maker’s punch mark GM for Guillaume Mermillod. Dial and cuvette are signed.
–
Diameter: 51 mm
–
Signed: Lépine à Paris Invenit et Fecit
–
Montre à toc
A ‘dumb’ repeater watch in which a hammer strikes the inside of the case to produce a muffled sound. Invented by Julian Le Roy in 1740.