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The Encyclopedia of Horology

Pocket watch · Coach watch

Julien Le Roy Four-Train Coach Watch

Partially verified

This four-train silver coach watch is signed by Julien Le Roy of Paris, though the source attributes its manufacture to Friedberg, Germany, circa 1740. It features a repoussé silver two-body case measuring 115 mm in diameter, heavily decorated with pierced, chased, and engraved scrollwork. The back of the case depicts a scene featuring courting couples within a rococo garden setting. The white enamel dial incorporates radial Roman numerals for hours and an outer track for Arabic five-minute intervals, with a date aperture positioned above the six o'clock mark. An inner enamel disc serves the alarm function. The movement measures 83 mm, utilizing a gilt, full-plate architecture with rectangular pillars and foliate silver frets. Equipped with a fusee and chain, it performs hour and quarter striking, repeating, and alarm functions on an internal bell, incorporating a strike/silent lever.

Front, back, and interior views of the Le Roy coach watch
Front, back, and interior views of the Le Roy coach watch — Antiquorum. Rights pending — permission not yet requested. Original source

Catalogue identity

Source
catalog.antiquorum.swiss
Category
Pocket watch · Coach watch
Maker / attribution
Julien Le Roy
Reference
Not recorded
Catalogue / lot identifier
365
Source-reported date
circa 1740
Source-reported place
France/Germany
Source-reported serial
569

Source-reported attribution and specifications are not independent authentication. A listing does not establish present ownership, current display, availability or permission to reproduce.

Object description

Case Construction and Aesthetics

The watch is housed in a large, two-body repoussé silver case measuring 115 mm in diameter. The exterior is characterized by highly detailed, pierced, chased, and engraved work featuring asymmetric rococo scrollwork. The bezel is decorated to coordinate with the overall aesthetic of the piece.

The back of the case serves as a pictorial focal point, depicting a scene of courting couples situated within a rococo garden. A pendant with a loose barrel and ring facilitates handling of the substantial case.

Evidence for this section
  • “Two-body, very fi nely pierced, chased and engraved with asymmetric scrollwork, bezel decorated to match, the back with a scene of courting couples in a rococo garden”

Movement and Functional Design

The movement is a gilt, full-plate construction measuring 83 mm. It features rectangular pillars enhanced with applied silver foliate frets. Power is delivered via a fusee and chain mechanism. The movement includes independent trains dedicated to the hour, quarter, repeating, and alarm functions, all utilizing polished steel hammers and striking on an internal bell.

The regulation is managed through a calibrated silver disc featuring radial Roman numerals. A polished steel endplate is visible, and the backplate furniture is noted for being finely pierced, chased, and engraved. A strike/silent lever is integrated into the dial plate, allowing the user to manage the chiming function.

Evidence for this section
  • “gilt, full-plate, rectangular pillars with applied silver foliate frets, fusee with chain”
  • “trip quarter repeating, striking and alarm on a bell in the back of the case, with independent trains for quarters and hours, a lever for silence/strike”

Dial and Hands

The dial is composed of white enamel featuring radial Roman numerals for the hour indications. The outer edge includes a minute track supplemented by Arabic five-minute numerals. A date aperture is located positioned above the six o'clock numeral.

An inner alarm disc, also executed in enamel, provides Arabic numerals along with markers for half and quarter hours.

Evidence for this section
  • “White enamel with radial Roman numerals, outer minute track and Arabic fi ve minute numerals, date aperture above 6, inner enamel alarm disc with Arabic numerals and half and quarter hour markers. Fine pierced gilt Louis XV hands.”

Open research questions

  • What is the definitive provenance for serial number 569?
  • How many similar movements exist from the Friedberg workshops of this specific era?

Source evidence

Recorded claims and source quotations for Julien Le Roy Four-Train Coach Watch
FieldSource-reported valueSource quotation
MakerJulien Le Roy à Paris“Julien Le Roy à Paris, No. 569.”
Place of ManufactureFriedberg, Germany“Made in Friedberg, circa 1740.”
Case Diameter115 mm“Diam. 115 mm.”
Movement Diameter83 mm“M. 83 mm., gilt, full-plate”
FunctionsHour and quarter striking, repeating, date and alarm“hour and quarter striking and repeating, date and alarm.”
EscapementVerge escapement“verge escapement”
DialWhite enamel with radial Roman numerals“White enamel with radial Roman numerals”
Case DecorationRepoussé silver with courting couples“very fi nely pierced, chased and engraved with asymmetric scrollwork, bezel decorated to match, the back with a scene of courting couples in a rococo garden”

Visible details

  • Repoussé silver case with courting couples
  • Pierced gilt Louis XV hands
  • Strike/silent lever positioned in the dial plate
  • Full-plate gilt movement with silver foliate frets

Research qualifications

  • Attribution to Friedberg remains based on expert study rather than original maker marks
  • Exact historical relationship between Le Roy and Friedberg production remains unverified

Photograph identity and source facts were screened before import; rights clearance remains pending.

Consulted source

LE ROY - THE ROCOCO GARDEN Julien Le Roy à Paris, No. 569. Made in Friedberg, circa 1740. Very fine and rare, large, repoussé silver, four-train coach watch with hour and quarter striking and repeating, date and alarm.

Reviewed 2026-10-26 · Record 16d5ba7a98

Terms in this record

Glossary explanations for terms named in this object’s record.