Julien Le ROY, Paris. No 2017
Rare ‘dumb repeating’ watch by this most important French watchmaker, possibly for the English market, circa 1745.
£5,995.00
Large pink gold case with ruby set push bearing Paris hallmarks, casemaker JQ under a star (cameo). Best quality fullplate fusee movement the pierced balance-bridge with the usual Swiss/French polished steel coquerette and a potance with an adjustment for drops, the deep brass-edge engraved Jul Le Roy in 1740. Verge (recoil) escapement, steel balance, spiral balance-spring. Lovely signed enamel dial with winding at II, held by a single screw at III, and with its original pierced gold hands. 50 mm diameter.
Julien Le Roy ‘Clockmaker to Louis XV’, friend of Henry Sully and father of the equally famous Pierre Le Roy, described as “a celebrated maker who raised the status of French watchmaking by the perfection of his work and design” in G H Baillie’s extensive note on this maker. Julien is credited with inventing the form of potance with screw adjustment for equalising the drops and the first to fit an ‘all-or-nothing piece’ in plunge-repeating work that stopped the watch from striking anything but the correct hours, both of which are present in this watch. The inscription on the brass-edge also refers to Le Roy’s invention of a bate levee. This allowed more room for the repeating work, an invention subsequently taken up by other French repeating motion makers
NB: This watch does not strike on a bell but strikes on the case itself, usually called dumb repeating. This is not strictly correct as the blows were intended to be heard, as can be seen on this watch which is also fitted with a pulse-piece, the operation of which allow the blows to be felt rather than heard. It is also an important feature in this watch that the inscription on the brass-edge has the word ‘in’ engraved in English and not the the usual French ‘en.’ This, I believe, points to the watch being ordered by an English customer, a feature I can never before remember seeing. It may also explain the wonderfully detailed but plain gold case, something which French buyers would have almost certainly expected to be additionally decorated.
Watches by both Julien and his son are represented in most of the major world museums, but few are as in such good condition as this example. Julien’s name also appears on watches made by his son Pierre who continued for some time to use his father’s name on the watches he was making. These should not, however, be confused with the many watches that were not made by Julien or Pierre (fakes or another Le Roy entirely) as well as late 18th century watches sold into the Turkish market that are mostly still offered by dealers and auctions houses as his work – Julien died in 1759.
A most beautiful example of the very best Paris work of the time, formerly in the Ahrens collection auctioned in Germany in 2007. Dial with just minor chips around the winding hole and the pulse-piece partially missing. Photographed prior to servicing please note but can be freshly serviced for its new owner if wanted, and is accompanied by my usual guarantee.
Item reserved
Description
Large pink gold case with ruby set push bearing Paris hallmarks, casemaker JQ under a star (cameo). Best quality fullplate fusee movement the pierced balance-bridge with the usual Swiss/French polished steel coquerette and a potance with an adjustment for drops, the deep brass-edge engraved Jul Le Roy in 1740. Verge (recoil) escapement, steel balance, spiral balance-spring. Lovely signed enamel dial with winding at II, held by a single screw at III, and with its original pierced gold hands. 50 mm diameter.
Julien Le Roy ‘Clockmaker to Louis XV’, friend of Henry Sully and father of the equally famous Pierre Le Roy, described as “a celebrated maker who raised the status of French watchmaking by the perfection of his work and design” in G H Baillie’s extensive note on this maker. Julien is credited with inventing the form of potance with screw adjustment for equalising the drops and the first to fit an ‘all-or-nothing piece’ in plunge-repeating work that stopped the watch from striking anything but the correct hours, both of which are present in this watch. The inscription on the brass-edge also refers to Le Roy’s invention of a bate levee. This allowed more room for the repeating work, an invention subsequently taken up by other French repeating motion makers
NB: This watch does not strike on a bell but strikes on the case itself, usually called dumb repeating. This is not strictly correct as the blows were intended to be heard, as can be seen on this watch which is also fitted with a pulse-piece, the operation of which allow the blows to be felt rather than heard. It is also an important feature in this watch that the inscription on the brass-edge has the word ‘in’ engraved in English and not the the usual French ‘en.’ This, I believe, points to the watch being ordered by an English customer, a feature I can never before remember seeing. It may also explain the wonderfully detailed but plain gold case, something which French buyers would have almost certainly expected to be additionally decorated.
Watches by both Julien and his son are represented in most of the major world museums, but few are as in such good condition as this example. Julien’s name also appears on watches made by his son Pierre who continued for some time to use his father’s name on the watches he was making. These should not, however, be confused with the many watches that were not made by Julien or Pierre (fakes or another Le Roy entirely) as well as late 18th century watches sold into the Turkish market that are mostly still offered by dealers and auctions houses as his work – Julien died in 1759.
A most beautiful example of the very best Paris work of the time, formerly in the Ahrens collection auctioned in Germany in 2007. Dial with just minor chips around the winding hole and the pulse-piece partially missing. Photographed prior to servicing please note but can be freshly serviced for its new owner if wanted, and is accompanied by my usual guarantee.