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The Encyclopedia of Horology

Pocket watch · Painted on enamel pocket watch

Le Roy 'Le Lettre d'Amour' Enamel Pocket Watch

Partially verified

This pocket watch, titled 'Le Lettre d'Amour' and attributed to the maker Le Roy, A Paris, is a Swiss-made timepiece dating to approximately 1760. The watch is constructed with an 18K gold, two-body 'Louis XV' style case. The back of the case features a painted enamel country scene in the manner of Watteau, depicting a courting couple and a blackamoor servant delivering a letter, while the interior is decorated with a floral bouquet and the bezel displays a continuous landscape. The white enamel dial is marked with radial Roman numerals and an outer minute track featuring Arabic numerals at five-minute intervals. It is equipped with gold 'Louis XV' hands and a winding aperture positioned between the three and four o'clock markers. The timepiece is driven by a 33 mm hinged, gilt brass full-plate movement featuring a verge escapement, fusee and chain, and a continental cock.

Front view of the enamel pocket watch showing the case back decorated with a courting scene.
Front view of the enamel pocket watch showing the case back decorated with a courting scene. — Antiquorum. Rights pending — permission not yet requested. Original source

Catalogue identity

Source
catalog.antiquorum.swiss
Category
Pocket watch · Painted on enamel pocket watch
Maker / attribution
Le Roy
Reference
Not recorded
Catalogue / lot identifier
196
Source-reported date
circa 1760
Source-reported place
Switzerland

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 and Enamel Decoration

The pocket watch is encased in an 18K gold, two-body 'Louis XV' housing. The exterior reverse is finished with a detailed enamel painting that depicts a rural scene featuring a young man courting a lady, accompanied by a blackamoor servant who presents a letter to the woman. This scene is executed in the style of Watteau.

The decorative scheme extends beyond the case back. The interior of the case is painted with a bouquet of flowers, and the bezel is painted with a continuous landscape design.

Evidence for this section
  • “C. Two-body, ?Louis XV?, the back painted with a country scene in the manner of Watteau, depicting a young man courting a lady, her blackamoor servant handing her a letter, the interior decorated with a bouquet of flowers, bezel painted with continuous landscape.”

Dial and Hands

The white enamel dial is configured with radial Roman numerals indicating the hours. The perimeter includes an outer minute track with Arabic numerals marked at every five-minute interval. A winding aperture is positioned on the dial face between the 3 and 4 o'clock positions.

The time is displayed using gold 'Louis XV' hands. The auction documentation notes the inclusion of a service dial, which is recorded as being in fair condition, indicating that the current component may not be the original dial fitted at the time of manufacture.

Evidence for this section
  • “D. White enamel, radial Roman numerals, outer minute track with five-minute Arabic numerals, winding aperture between 3 and 4 o?clock. Gold ?Louis XV? hands.”
  • “Service dial”
  • “Dial: 4-54-03 Fair”

Movement and Mechanical Details

The watch operates on a 33 mm hinged, gilt brass full-plate movement. It utilizes a fusee and chain mechanism for power distribution and is regulated by a verge escapement. Further mechanical features include pentagonal baluster pillars, a micrometric potence adjustment, and a plain brass three-arm balance.

Additional elements of the movement include a flat balance spring, a continental cock, and a silver regulator disc. The movement is signed. The technical state is described by the auction house as requiring an overhaul.

Evidence for this section
  • “M. 33 mm, hinged, gilt brass full-plate with pentagonal baluster pillars, fusee and chain, verge escapement, micrometric potence adjustment, plain brass three-arm balance, flat balance spring, continental cock, silver regulator disc. Movement signed.”
  • “Overhaul recommended, at buyer's expense”

Open research questions

  • What specific evidence exists to link the 'Le Roy' signature to a particular workshop given the 'Swiss made' attribution?
  • Can the 'service dial' be dated to determine when the original dial might have been replaced?

Source evidence

Recorded claims and source quotations for Le Roy 'Le Lettre d'Amour' Enamel Pocket Watch
FieldSource-reported valueSource quotation
MakerLe Roy, A Paris“Le Roy, A Paris.”
Materials18K gold and painted on enamel“18K gold and painted on enamel pocket watch.”
Movement typeHinged, gilt brass full-plate“hinged, gilt brass full-plate”
EscapementVerge escapement“verge escapement”
Dimensions44 mm diameter“Diam. 44 mm.”
Movement size33 mm“M. 33 mm”
Place of originSwiss made“Swiss made circa 1760.”
Case styleTwo-body, Louis XV“C. Two-body, ?Louis XV?”

Visible details

  • The case back depicts a courting couple with a blackamoor servant.
  • The dial features a winding aperture located between the 3 and 4 o'clock positions.
  • The movement is a gilt brass full-plate type.
  • The bezel is decorated with a continuous landscape painting in enamel.

Research qualifications

  • The exact origin of the painting style beyond 'in the manner of Watteau' remains an attribution.
  • The auction description states 'Service dial' which may imply a historical replacement or restoration.

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

Consulted source

'Le Lettre d'Amour' Le Roy, A Paris. Swiss made circa 1760. Fine, 18K gold and painted on enamel pocket watch.

Reviewed 2026-10-26 · Record ecec192d47

Terms in this record

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