French bloodstone and gold quarter repeating watch Circa 1750

Gold open faced key winding verge watch
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A magnificent and luxurious French 18 carat gold open faced quarter repeating pocket watch crafted from heliotrope bloodstone, made by the celebrated royal watchmaker Julien Le Roy in Paris, mid 18th century. This watch has a mechanical key winding fusee and chain movement with a verge escapement, a spiral balance, an advance/retard adjustment regulation disc, a striking mechanism with a hammer on a gong, and ornate baluster pillars between the two plates. It features an intricately chased and pierced continental balance cock, signed on the backplate Julien Le Roy, Paris. The white enamel dial shows black Roman numerals for the hours, outer Arabic numerals for the five minute marks from 5 to 60, a fine minute track underlined by applied diamonds, stylized hands, and a winding aperture near 4 o’clock. All surround an exceptionally delicate central field painted with a polychrome enamel flower garland.
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The timepiece is housed in an extraordinarily rare and sophisticated hinged round three body case, carved from deep green heliotrope bloodstone and mounted in solid 18 carat gold. The bloodstone bezel is exquisitely highlighted with applied gold and rose cut diamond floral garlands. It is completed by a sturdy round suspension bow, a fluted pendant, and a repeater push piece set with diamonds. When the case is opened, the smooth, dark green interior shell of the stone frames the fire gilded mechanical movement.
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Diameter: 42 mm
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Weight: 75.00 g
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Signed: Julien Le Roy, Paris
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Luxury timepieces carved from semiprecious hardstones like heliotrope bloodstone, agate, or jasper represent the pinnacle of mid 18th century French courtly craftsmanship.
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Julien Le Roy (1686–1759), appointed Horloger du Roi to King Louis XV, was revered across Europe for driving technical innovations, such as optimizing the cylinder and verge movements, and for setting the standard for haute joaillerie case design. The use of heliotrope, prized for its dramatic dark green matrix flecked with red jasper inclusions, was flawlessly integrated with gold scrollwork and diamond settings. Combined with a highly complex quarter repeating mechanism, these rare sovereign masterpieces were commissioned exclusively for royals and elite aristocrats who frequented Versailles and the wealthy salons of Paris.