[1] Since his childhood the horologist showed an inclination towards mechanical, beginning his horological career and making fast progress, in particular, under the direction of Mr. Decroze, manufacturer of Saconnex watches,[2] in the suburbs of Geneva (Switzerland).

He moved to Paris in 1744 when he was 24 years of age, serving as apprentice to André-Charles Caron (1698–1775), at that time clockmaker to Louis XV.

An unsigned memoir of 1784 reports that Lépine stayed in Ferney for 18 months and that he had watch movements made there with a value of 90,000 livres a year.

His radical design broke with a 300-year tradition and ushered in the age of precision timekeeping, the modern pocket watch was born.

[4] In addition to paving the way for the making of even thinner watches, this innovation was readily adaptable as the basic model for mass-producing watch-movements, a process that was to begin in the nineteenth century.

It is important to note that the term "Lépine" can refer to both the calibre itself or a type of pocket watch with a flat, open-faced case in which the second wheel is placed in the axis of the winder shaft and the crown positioned at XII,[7] in opposition to the savonete (or hunter-case) watch where the second wheel and winder shaft are placed on perpendicular axes and the crown at III.

[4] Lépine's work profoundly influenced all subsequent watchmaking, particularly Abraham Louis Breguet who used a modified version of the "calibre ponts" for his ultra slim watches.

The business was sold to Jean Paul Chapuy in 1815, employing Lepine's nephew Jacques Lépine (working from 1814 until 1825) who had been appointed clockmaker to the King of Westfalia (Germany) in 1809.

[3] The horologist was patronised by leading figures of his day including the Comtesse d'Artois and de Provence, many French aristocracy as well as the Spanish, British and Swedish royalty.

[11] Apart from monarchs, aristocrats, bourgeoises, etc., such was the popularity of Lépine's design that George Washington,[12] retired as President of the United States, searched for: Dear Sir, I had the pleasure to receive by the last mail your letter dated the 12th of this month.

I imagine Mr. Jefferson can give you the best advice on the subject, as I am told this species of watches, which I have described, can be found cheaper and better fabricated in Paris than in London.

The pocket watch he received through his emissary in Paris was from '"Mr. Lépine (who) is at the Head of his Profession here, and in Consequence asks more for his Work than any Body else.