French gold verge with corresponding chatelaine Circa 1750

Representative gemstone studded pocket watch by Julien Le Roy
–
A French representative gemstone studded verge pocket watch “à quatre couleurs” with corresponding gold chatelaine, circa 1750.
Gold case, “à quatre couleurs” and “repoussé“, the backside with a music making gallant couple, the pendant set with a large diamond, a gemstone studded bezel and with a large lateral hinge. Corresponding chatelaine, gold, “à quatre couleurs“, similar “repoussé” décor and with signet and watch key. Enamel dial with radial Roman hours and pierced and gemstone studded hands. Signed, fire gilt, full plate movement, with chain/fusee, solid movement pillars, three arm brass balance and an engraved, pierced balance bridge.
–
Diameter: 38 mm
–
Weight: 46 g
–
Signed: Julien Le Roy à Paris
–
Julien Le Roy
He was one of the most outstanding clock- and watchmaker of his time and certainly played a decisive part in establishing the leading role French clockmaking had in the 18th century. He became a master in 1713, presented an equation clock to the Académie Royale des Sciences in 1717, and was appointed clockmaker to the king in 1739 (with his own rooms at the Louvre). Le Roy invented the adjustable bracket for the verge escapement wheel (“potency”), the repetition strike on springs instead of bells for pocket watches, and the “all or nothing” piece for repeating watches. His inventions and improvements were of such extreme importance that most watchmakers adopted them promptly for their own pieces. Later Le Roy was director of the Société des Arts; he and his son supplied the entries on watches and clocks in the encyclopaedia compiled by Diderot and d’Alembert.