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The Encyclopedia of Horology

London, Not recorded · 1660–1731

David Lestourgeon

Partially verified

Commemorative verge and pendulum watches

Life & work

Born in Rouen, France, David Lestourgeon relocated to London in 1681 as a Huguenot refugee following the religious turbulence in his home country.

He successfully integrated into the London craft community and was admitted as a member of the Clockmakers' Company in 1698. Operating his business in Lothbury, he gained professional recognition for his skill in producing specialized watches, including those featuring mock pendulum designs. Lestourgeon was known for creating commemorative timepieces that celebrated major political events, such as the coronation of Queen Anne.

Outside of his primary profession as a watchmaker, he was documented in his final will as both a watchmaker and an innholder in the City of London.

The fuller biography summarises the open references listed under Sources; each statement was checked against the cited passage. Confirm key dates in period documents before relying on them.

Training, contributions & innovations

  • He brought specialized French horological expertise to London, contributing to the city's reputation for advanced watchmaking.

Documented works

  • A silver pair-cased watch commemorating the death of King William III is held within the collection of the Museum of London.
  • The British Museum holds a silver pair-cased verge watch by the maker that features a commemorative portrait bust of Queen Anne.
  • A silver pair-cased watch featuring a mock pendulum and an engraved bust of William III is preserved in the Science Museum Group collection.

Collecting significance

The catalogued pieces listed on this page show the kinds of objects auction houses, dealers and museums attribute to this maker; each attribution is the source's own.

Firms, key models & movements

No firm, model or movement in this encyclopedia is yet recorded under this maker's name.

In the object catalogue

2 catalogued objects are recorded under David Lestourgeon. Attributions are as given by each source and are not independent authentication.

  • Front view of the silver pocket watch showing the champlevé dial and signature, held in its case.
  • Dial view of the watch housed within its pin-studded tortoiseshell outer case

Sources & references

  1. Collections Online | British Museum, British Museum, retrieved 2026-11-03 (paraphrased; text © the publisher)
  2. pendulum watch | British Museum, British Museum, retrieved 2026-11-03 (paraphrased; text © the publisher)
  3. Watch with mock pendulum by David Lestourgeon | Science Museum Group Collection, Science Museum Group, retrieved 2026-11-03 (paraphrased; text © the publisher)
  4. Lestourgéon, David (2) - Watch-Wiki - Das Uhrenlexikon, Watch-Wiki, retrieved 2026-11-03 (paraphrased; text © the publisher)
  5. Circular pair-cased verge watch with mock pendulum balance | London Museum, London Museum, retrieved 2026-11-03 (paraphrased; text © the publisher)
  6. LESTOURGEON, David - The Huguenots of Spitalfields, huguenotsofspitalfields.org, retrieved 2026-11-03 (paraphrased; text © the publisher)

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