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The Encyclopedia of Horology

Pocket watch · Open-face pocket watch with stop feature

Lepaute et Fils à Paris 18K gold pocket watch with stop feature, No. 3433 + 36

Partially verified

This circa 1830 French pocket watch by Lepaute et Fils à Paris features a 52 mm four-body 18K gold case in 'bassine et filets' form, decorated with engine turning along the back cover, band, and bezels. The white enamel dial displays radial Roman numerals, an outer minute track, blued steel Breguet hands, and a subsidiary seconds subdial at 6 o'clock. The source reports a 45.7 mm gilt full-plate movement utilizing cylindrical pillars, fusee with chain, a cylinder escapement, and a stop mechanism controlled by a lever located at 3 o'clock under the bezel.

Front view of the Lepaute et Fils 18K gold pocket watch showing the white enamel dial and blued hands
Front view of the Lepaute et Fils 18K gold pocket watch showing the white enamel dial and blued hands — Antiquorum. Rights pending — permission not yet requested. Original source

Catalogue identity

Source
catalog.antiquorum.swiss
Category
Pocket watch · Open-face pocket watch with stop feature
Maker / attribution
Lepaute et Fils à Paris, Horlogers du Roi
Reference
Not recorded
Catalogue / lot identifier
287
Source-reported date
circa 1830
Country
France
Source-reported serial
3433 + 36

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

Dial and Visual Presentation

The watch features a white enamel dial with radial Roman numeral hour markers, an outer minute ring, and a subsidiary seconds subdial at 6 o'clock. The dial is inscribed with 'LEPAUTE ET FILS' arched across the upper half and 'H.GER DU ROI' arched below.

Visible hands include blued steel Breguet hour and minute hands accompanied by a straight blued seconds hand on the subdial, which is marked in ten-second increments. The dial is set within an engine-turned textured gold bezel and mounted with a round pendant and tapered bow at 12 o'clock.

Evidence for this section
  • “D. White enamel, radial Roman numerals, outer minute ring, subsidiary seconds. Blued steel Breguet hands.”
  • “White enamel dial inscribed 'LEPAUTE ET FILS' and 'H.GER DU ROI'”
  • “Blued steel Breguet hour and minute hands with a straight blued subdial seconds hand”
  • “Engine-turned textured gold bezel surrounding the front crystal”
  • “Subsidiary seconds ring marked in ten-second increments at 6 o'clock”
  • “Round pendant attached to a tapered gold bow at 12 o'clock”

Case Construction and Markings

The catalog documents a four-body, 52 mm 18K gold case in 'bassine et filets' form, featuring engine-turned decoration on the back cover, band, and bezels, as well as a hinged gilt brass cuvette.

The case is reported as stamped with a French guarantee mark used between 1821 and 1838, and the piece is reported as signed on the dial, cuvette, and movement.

Evidence for this section
  • “C. Four-body, "bassine et filets", engine turned back cover, band and bezels, gilt brass hinged cuvette, round pendant, round and tapered bow.”
  • “Diam. 52 mm.”
  • “Signed on dial, cuvette and movement, case stamped with French guarantee mark used between 1821 and 1838.”

Reported Movement and Stop Mechanism

The internal mechanism is described as a 45.7 mm gilt full-plate movement with cylindrical pillars, fusee and chain transmission, and a cylinder escapement with a steel escape wheel.

The balance assembly is reported as a three-arm jeweled gilded balance paired with a flat balance spring. A stop lever is noted under the bezel at the 3 o'clock position to operate the watch's stop feature.

Evidence for this section
  • “M. 45,7 mm, gilt full plate, cylindrical pillars, fusee and chain, cylinder escapement with steel escape wheel, three-arm, jeweled gilded balance with flat balance spring, stop lever at 3 o'clock below the bezel.”
  • “Very fine and rare 18K gold watch with stop feature.”

Open research questions

  • Which specific French guarantee hallmark mark from the 1821–1838 standard is struck on the gold case?
  • How does the dual numbering 'No. 3433 + 36' appear across the case, cuvette, and movement plates?
  • What mechanical linkage does the stop lever at 3 o'clock utilize to arrest the balance or escape train?

Source evidence

Recorded claims and source quotations for Lepaute et Fils à Paris 18K gold pocket watch with stop feature, No. 3433 + 36
FieldSource-reported valueSource quotation
Case material18K gold“Very fine and rare 18K gold watch with stop feature.”
Case designFour-body, bassine et filets“C. Four-body, "bassine et filets", engine turned back cover, band and bezels, gilt brass hinged cuvette, round pendant, round and tapered bow.”
Dial descriptionWhite enamel with radial Roman numerals and subsidiary seconds“D. White enamel, radial Roman numerals, outer minute ring, subsidiary seconds.”
Movement specifications45.7 mm gilt full plate, fusee and chain, cylinder escapement“M. 45,7 mm, gilt full plate, cylindrical pillars, fusee and chain, cylinder escapement with steel escape wheel”
Diameter52 mm“Diam. 52 mm.”
HallmarksFrench guarantee mark used between 1821 and 1838“case stamped with French guarantee mark used between 1821 and 1838.”
SignaturesSigned on dial, cuvette, and movement“Signed on dial, cuvette and movement”
Balance assemblyThree-arm, jeweled gilded balance with flat balance spring“three-arm, jeweled gilded balance with flat balance spring”
Movement diameter45.7 mm“M. 45,7 mm”
Escape wheelSteel escape wheel“cylinder escapement with steel escape wheel”

Visible details

  • White enamel dial inscribed 'LEPAUTE ET FILS' and 'H.GER DU ROI'
  • Blued steel Breguet hour and minute hands with a straight blued subdial seconds hand
  • Engine-turned textured gold bezel surrounding the front crystal
  • Round pendant attached to a tapered gold bow at 12 o'clock
  • Subsidiary seconds ring marked in ten-second increments at 6 o'clock

Research qualifications

  • Internal movement, hinged gilt brass cuvette, and case back are not depicted in the provided photograph.
  • The stop lever located under the bezel at 3 o'clock is not clearly identifiable in this front-facing view.

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

Consulted source

Lepaute et Fils à Paris, Horlogers du Roi, No. 3433 + 36, circa 1830.Very fine and rare 18K gold watch with stop feature. | A TRIBUTE TO PRECISION AND COMPLICATED TIMEPIECES & PROFESSOR THOMAS ENGEL COLLECTION - PART I | Hotel Nogalhilton Geneve, 11th November 2001

Reviewed 2026-10-21 · Record 2c430167f2

Terms in this record

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