the movement was protected from dust by an inner case. This new arrangement had the advantage of preventing access from the dial face, thus avoiding damaging it or the hands. The aiguilles à pomme apple shaped hands; hollow, tip hands, were first used by Lépine. In 1783 Breguet introduced a variation with eccentric "moon", and these are the most popular today, known as Breguet hands. Legacy In 1793–94 Lépine, when his tired eyes did not let him work further, handed over the "Maison Lépine" to his son-in-law Claude-Pierre Raguet who had become an associate in 1792, and when he died in 1810, his son Alexandre Raguet-Lépine continued the business. However, Jean-Antoine Lépine continued to be active in the firm until his demise, happened on May 31, 1814 at his home of Rue St. Anne in Paris. He was buried in a temporary concession in the Père-Lachaise cemetery on June 1, 1814. 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. Later in 1827 it was sold to Deschamps who was succeeded in 1832 by Fabre (Favre). In 1853 passed to Boulay. 1885: Roux, Boulay's son in law. 1901: Ferdinand Verger. 1914: Last acquisition. 1919: Residual stock purchased by Louis Leroy. The business always continued under the name Lépine. Several of Lepine clocks and watches are on display in European museums and palaces, his timepieces are among the finest in the history of watchmaking. He played a significant role in allowing us to strap watches onto our wrists. Historical associations 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. Apart from monarchs, aristocrats, bourgeoises, etc., such was the popularity of Lépine's design that George Washington, 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 am much obliged by your offer of executing commissions for me in Europe, and shall take the liberty of charging you with one only. I wish to have a good gold watch procured for my own use; not a small, trifling, nor finically ornamented one, but a watch well executed in point