French rare gold enamel virgule Lépine pocket watch Circa 1800

Open faced pocket watch attributed to Jean-Antoine Lépine
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A rare and very important French 18K gold, enamel, diamond and pearl-set Lépine pocket watch, circa 1800. Sold by Le Cointe & Albert, Chaise Place Vendome No. 26, Paris. The case has large half-pearls on both sides, high-grade diamonds, translucent dark blue enamel on the back, and a large diamond of circa Ø 7 mm in the centre. White enamel dial with Arabic numerals and pink gold hands. Very fine movement attributed to Jean-Antoine Lépine, repeating the hours and quarter hours, a Lépine calibre in the manner of the time around 1800, virgule escapement. Accompanied by the original box with a compartment for the, probably original key.
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Diameter: 58 mm
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Weight: 120 g
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Signed: No name
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Most pocket watches equipped with this movement were made with simple gold cases. From this real rarity, only a few comparable pieces are noted.
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Jean Antoine Lépine was born on 18th November 1720 in Challex, France. After his watchmaking apprenticeship, he went to Paris in 1744 and joined the workshop of André Charles Caron. In the 1750s Lépine invented the virgule escapement. In 1756, he married the daughter of his business partner, Caron. In 1762, he completed his mastership examination and was announced to the Royal Watchmaker of the Court of Louis XV. He kept his title during the era of Ludwig XVI and Napoleon. In 1769, Caron left the company at the age of 72, and Lépine became the only director. In 1770, he invented the Lépine calibre, named after him, which revolutionized the pocket watch movement.