French gold and enamel watch with chatelaine Circa 1780

Gold open faced key wound verge watch
–
An exceptional French 18 carat yellow gold and enamel open faced pendant watch made by Lépine in Paris, circa 1780. It has a key wound mechanical movement with a verge escapement, fusee and chain, and a chased and pierced cock signed Lépine à Paris Hger du Roy. The white enamel dial, signed Lépine Hger du Roy à Paris, features black Arabic numerals for the hours, an outer minute track with Arabic five minute markers and stylized gold hands, a winding aperture near 2 o’clock.
–
The timepiece is housed in a round case featuring a finely painted polychrome enamel scene on the back over a guilloché ground depicting Minerva beside an altar with a crowned double headed eagle coat of arms. The watch is suspended from a matching gold chatelaine, fitted with a brooch pin and set with two polychrome enamel medallions showing Minerva and a crowned double headed eagle coat of arms.
–
Diameter: 37 mm
–
Weight: 66 g
–
Signed: Lépine à Paris Hger du Roy