Antique French Verge Fusee Pocket Watch c1770 Lame Paris- Queen Marie Antoinette

A remarkable and highly important 18th-century French verge fusee pocket watch, crafted circa 1770 by Lame à Paris, one of the respected Parisian makers supplying the elite royal and aristocratic clientele of pre-Revolutionary France.

This watch is traditionally associated with the Cabinet of Queen Marie Antoinette, and features a pair silver case decorated with her royal cipher/monogram beneath a crown, a form reserved exclusively for royal property and court presentation pieces. Watches bearing such decoration were not made for public sale and were produced for use within the royal household or as diplomatic or courtly gifts.

Dial

• Original hand-painted enamel dial
• Charming scenic composition with architectural and maritime motifs
• Signed “Lame à Paris”
• Original period hands
• Original winding aperture at 2 o’clock

The dial remains exceptionally appealing, showing honest age consistent with the late 18th century.

Case

• Large pair silver case
• Outer case with deep red translucent lacquer tone
• Decorated with a gilt royal crowned monogram
• Hand-set silver studs around the perimeter
• Correct period bow and pendant
• Diameter: 63 mm

This size and decoration strongly correspond to watches made for court and ceremonial use rather than everyday wear.

Movement

• Original French verge fusee movement
• Gilt full plate with finely pierced and engraved balance cock
• Signed by the maker
• Original steel and brass components
• Clean and complete

 In perfect working order, running strongly and keeping time as expected for an original verge watch of this period.

Provenance & Significance

Watches signed Lame à Paris are well documented in 18th-century Parisian horology, and examples bearing royal monograms are exceptionally rare. The crowned cipher strongly aligns with watches produced for Queen Marie Antoinette’s cabinet during her early years as Queen of France.

Comparable examples reside in major private collections and museum holdings, and pieces of this nature are seldom encountered on the open market.

Included

 Appraisal Certificate

 Professionally prepared certificate confirming authenticity

 Appraised value: $6,000 USD

Summary

• 100% original antique
• Circa 1770
• Lame à Paris
• Royal monogrammed pair silver case
• Hand-painted enamel dial
• Verge fusee movement
• Fully functional
• Museum-level historical significance

A rare opportunity to acquire an authentic French royal court watch from the final decades of the Ancien Régime.