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The Encyclopedia of Horology

Pocket watch · Place not recorded

Montre de poche en or

Verified

Gold pocket watch. The so-called “à toc” movement (the hammer strikes directly against the case wall), which is an example that displays all the characteristic features of Lépine’s work. He produced his first wolf-tooth going train watches in 1771, but it was mainly between 1787 and 1789 that he used this type of Watch train for watches numbered between 5200 and 5711. This piece bears the number 5445.

Technical facts

Inventory number
MIH I-2960
Object type
Pocket watch
Dating
1788
Dimensions (catalogue)
dimensions: 80.0 x 56.0 x 19.0 mm
Inscriptions (catalogue)
N°5445; Remontez à droite; Tournez les Eguilles; Lépine Hger du Roy; A Paris

Historical significance

  • Gold pocket watch. The so-called “à toc” movement (the hammer strikes directly against the case wall), which is an example that displays all the characteristic features of Lépine’s work. He produced his first wolf-tooth going train watches in 1771, but it was mainly between 1787 and 1789 that he used this type of Watch train for watches numbered between 5200 and 5711. This piece bears the number 5445.
  • The watch also incorporates his invention of invisible hinges,as well as a “secret” case-back opening mechanism.
  • The dial features a full mixture of Arabic and Roman numerals. This dial layout appears to be unique to Lépine and is found only on some of his watches made between 1788 and 1790.

Photographs

Montre de poche en or (MIH I-2960)
Montre de poche en or (MIH I-2960) — Musée international d'horlogerie, La Chaux-de-Fonds, Museum collection photograph, rights review pending. MIH collection record
Montre de poche en or (MIH I-2960)
Montre de poche en or (MIH I-2960) — Musée international d'horlogerie, La Chaux-de-Fonds, Museum collection photograph, rights review pending. MIH collection record
Montre de poche en or (MIH I-2960)
Montre de poche en or (MIH I-2960) — Musée international d'horlogerie, La Chaux-de-Fonds, Museum collection photograph, rights review pending. MIH collection record

Photographs are illustrative examples of the type, not necessarily the exact object described. Verify details against the source file page.

Sources & references

  1. Musée international d'horlogerie, online collection record, inv. I-2960: https://collection.mih.ch/fr/collection/item/52663/

Where sources disagree, the disagreement is stated rather than resolved silently.