Three Colour Gold Verge Pocket Watch by Charles LeRoy
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
Late 18th century
This late 18th-century verge fusee pocket watch is attributed to the maker Charles LeRoy, working in Paris. The timepiece is housed in a consular case manufactured from three-colour gold, featuring an elaborate relief engraving on the back cover.
The scene depicts a garden setting with a vase, basket of fruit, and birds, surrounded by a textured ground and floral swags, with further foliage decoration on the bezel. The watch features a white enamel dial signed by the maker, displaying Roman numerals for the hours and Arabic numerals for the minutes, with gold-coloured hands and direct winding through the dial. The movement is a full plate gilt fusee construction, equipped with an intricate, pierced and engraved bridge cock featuring a steel coqueret, a three-armed gilt balance, and a blue steel hairspring.
A silver regulator dial with a blue steel indicator is present on the movement.
Evidence at a glance
- Linked sources
- 1
- Photograph views
- 1
- Catalogue references
- 0
Counts describe this entry’s documentation, not authenticity, rarity or completeness. Photographs may show one specimen; check each caption and licence.
Technical characteristics
- Date
- Late 18th century
- Type
- Verge fusee pocket watch
- Maker
- Charles LeRoy
- Country
- France
- Case Material
- Three-colour gold
- Dial Features
- White enamel with Roman and Arabic numerals
- Movement Type
- Verge fusee
- Place recorded
- France
- Movement Details
- Full plate gilt with pierced balance bridge
- Maker / attribution
- Charles LeRoy
Design
- Case and Dial
- The pocket watch is set within a consular case constructed from three-colour gold. The reverse side displays a highly detailed relief-carved scene of a garden, incorporating motifs of birds, a flower-filled vase, and a basket of fruit, all set against a textured, oval-shaped panel. The perimeter of the case back is framed by swags, and the bezel is decorated with prominent foliate carvings. The dial is composed of white enamel and displays a signature. Time is indicated via Roman numerals for the hours and Arabic numerals for the minutes, with gold-toned hands. Winding of the watch is achieved directly through an aperture situated on the dial surface. The enamel shows a natural hairline fracture resulting from age.
- Visible features
- • Case back features multi-coloured gold relief engraving of birds and fruit • Dial exhibits a hairline fracture visible near the 8 o'clock position • Movement includes an engraved and pierced balance cock bridge
- Movement and Escapement
- The movement utilizes a traditional verge fusee mechanism. It features full plates that are gilt. The balance bridge is notable for its intricate, hand-executed pierced and engraved work, complemented by a steel coqueret. The oscillator consists of a three-armed gilt balance wheel paired with a blued steel hairspring. For precision adjustment, a silver regulator dial is mounted on the movement, accompanied by a blued steel indicator needle.
- Attribution and Condition
- The piece is attributed to the Parisian maker Charles LeRoy, dating from the late 18th century. No information regarding the current functional state of the mechanism or the history of previous maintenance is available from the source. The auction description reports that the precise dimensions of the case are not provided. Prospective owners are encouraged to conduct an independent verification of the condition of the fusee chain, the gearing, and the structural integrity of the gold case.
Identification
- Source note
- Facts transcribed from the linked source listing or collection record. Attribution and specifications are source-reported and have not been independently authenticated.
Catalogue references
No catalogue numbers recorded. Numbers are only published once transcribed from a verified edition of a standard catalogue — they are never inferred.
Research required
- Research required: The source notes the absence of detailed service history or functional verification
- Research required: The source advises potential buyers to verify the integrity of the fusee chain and gear train independently