JULIEN LE ROY, Paris
Gold and bloodstone watch called "heliotrope" with quarter repeater
Mid-18th century
Round case on circular hinge in bloodstone called "heliotrope" mounted in gold, the heliotrope bezel highlighted with gold and diamond garlands, pendant and pusher set with diamonds
White enamel dial with Roman numerals for the hours and Arabic numerals for the five minutes, highlighted with applied diamonds, polychrome painted flower garland in the center, stylized hands and railroad minute track, opening for the winding square
Movement with key winding, verge escapement, chased and pierced continental cock, spiral balance, fusee and chain, adjustment disc, baluster pillars between the two plates, striking mechanism with hammer, signed "Julien Le Roy, Paris"
Diam. 42 mm
Gross weight. 75 g
Julien Le Roy (1686 – 1759)
Julien Le Roy (1686-1759) was one of the most prominent French clockmakers of the 18th century, known for his significant contributions to watchmaking and for being the clockmaker to King Louis XV.
Biography and career
Birth and education:
Born on August 6, 1686 in Tours, Julien Le Roy came from a family of clockmakers. Trained by his father, Pierre Le Roy,
he made his first clock at the age of thirteen. In 1699, he moved to Paris to complete his apprenticeship with the clockmaker C. Le Bon.
Mastery and recognition:
In 1713, he became a master clockmaker and, in 1739, was appointed ordinary clockmaker to King Louis XV. He ran his workshop on Rue de Harlay in Paris until his death in 1759.
Contributions to watchmaking
Technical innovations: Julien Le Roy is recognized for his improvements to
watch mechanisms, including the introduction of the lever escapement and improvements in repeater watches.
Horizontal clocks:
He is also credited with creating or popularizing horizontal building clocks, characterized by an innovative arrangement of gears, a reduction in the number of parts
and simplified maintenance.
Legacy and posterity
Family of watchmakers: Among his four sons, Pierre Le Roy (1717-1785) continued the family tradition by becoming a renowned watchmaker, contributing to the creation of highly precise timepieces.
Museum collections: Julien Le Roy's works are held in many prestigious museums, such as the Louvre in Paris and the Victoria and Albert Museum in London.
Julien Le Roy remains an emblematic figure of French watchmaking, having left his mark on his era through his technical expertise and his role with the royal court.
