Julien Le Roy à Paris, 41 mm, 62 g, circa 1780

A decorative diamond-set verge pocket watch with enamel decoration
Case: gold / enamel. Dial: enamel. Movm.: full plate movement, keywind, chain/fusee, three-arm brass balance.

This exceptionally well-preserved verge pocket watch is studded with diamonds and shows a wonderful polychrome enamel medallion with a galant scene on its back that is framed by a translucent blue enamel border over an engine-turned edge with floral engraving. The case band is decorated with applied flower scrolls of translucent and opaque enamel on a sablé ground.

Julien Le Roy was one of the most outstanding clock- and watchmakers of his time and certainly played a decisive part in establishing the leading role French clockmaking had in the 18th century. His inventions and improvements were of such extreme importance that most watchmakers adopted them promptly for their own pieces.