French gold open faced quarter repeating pocket watch Circa 1790

Gold and lapis lazuli key winding virgule watch
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A fine French 18 carat yellow gold open faced quarter repeating pocket watch made by Jean-Antoine Lépine in Paris, circa 1790. This watch has a mechanical key winding fire gilded brass movement with a virgule escapement and an on demand quarter repeating strike mechanism with two steel hammers striking two gongs, and an open skeletonized bridge layout typical of Lépine’s pioneering calibres. The white enamel dial, signed Lépine, features elegant painted Arabic numerals for the hours, outer minute tracks with Arabic five minute numerals, and intricately pierced openwork hands set with rose cut diamonds.
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The timepiece is housed in a luxurious round three body, 18 carat solid yellow gold open faced case. The front gold bezel and silver accents are lavishly set with a continuous row of rose cut diamonds, complemented by a reverse back cover set with a solid disc of natural blue lapis lazuli displaying gold flecked pyrite inclusions, framed by a matching border of half pearls. The case opens to reveal a hand engraved solid 18 carat gold inner protective cuvette detailing the mechanism winding and hand setting instructions, signed Lépine H(orlo)g(e)r du Roy / A Paris and numbered, alongside a polished lapis lazuli lined interior on the reverse cover, a cylindrical winding stem, and a sturdy round suspension bow pavé set with rose cut diamonds.
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Diameter: 40 mm
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Weight: 51 g
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Signed: Lépine à Paris