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Lot Essay
The present watch is one of the exceedingly rare examples featuring Robin's detent lever escapement most likely made by Robert Robin during his lifetime and then finished and sold by his son after 1838.
Robert Robin (1742-1799) was enrolled as a master-watchmaker on 28 November 1767. Already as of 1763, he benefited from many advantages in practising his art as 'Privileged Merchant-Watchmaker of the King following the Court and Councils of His Majesty'. He was appointed watchmaker to the Duke of Chartres at the end of 1778 and obtained one of the four posts as ordinary watchmaker to the King in 1782.
Robert Robin wrote several memoirs on remontoirs, turret clocks and decimal watches. He made the first lever watches in France, following the example of a movement by Josiah Emery. Some of these watches were fitted with a compensation balance for temperature changes which he had invented.
His detent lever escapement was used by France's most celebrated watchmakers of the time, most notably Breguet.
For an extensive essay on Robert Robin and his lever escapement see Histoire de l'échappement à ancre - les montres à ancre françaises de la première génération by Jean-Claude Sabrier, ANCAHA Association Nationale des Collectionneurs et Amateurs d'Horlogerie Ancienne et d'Art, Bulletin No. 23, 1978.
Robert Robin (1742-1799) was enrolled as a master-watchmaker on 28 November 1767. Already as of 1763, he benefited from many advantages in practising his art as 'Privileged Merchant-Watchmaker of the King following the Court and Councils of His Majesty'. He was appointed watchmaker to the Duke of Chartres at the end of 1778 and obtained one of the four posts as ordinary watchmaker to the King in 1782.
Robert Robin wrote several memoirs on remontoirs, turret clocks and decimal watches. He made the first lever watches in France, following the example of a movement by Josiah Emery. Some of these watches were fitted with a compensation balance for temperature changes which he had invented.
His detent lever escapement was used by France's most celebrated watchmakers of the time, most notably Breguet.
For an extensive essay on Robert Robin and his lever escapement see Histoire de l'échappement à ancre - les montres à ancre françaises de la première génération by Jean-Claude Sabrier, ANCAHA Association Nationale des Collectionneurs et Amateurs d'Horlogerie Ancienne et d'Art, Bulletin No. 23, 1978.