Important Watches, Wristwatches and C...

Geneva, Hotel Des Bergues, Oct 18, 1997

LOT 121

Giteau, Eleve de Breguet, 140, Palais Royal, Paris, No. 519, circa 1820. Fine 18K gold quarter repeating watch with lever escapement of the second generation.

CHF 4,000 - 5,000

Sold: CHF 4,370

C. Three body, Empire, engine-turned (the back worn). Hinged gilt brass cuvette. D. Gold engineturned with black champleve enamelled Roman numerals and half hour divisions in a floral pattern. Blued steel Breguet hands. M. 22 "' , gilt brass with free standing barrel, 13 jewels, lateral lever escapement, plain brass three-arm balance, flat balance spring. Repeating on two polished steel square gongs by depressing the pendant. Signed on the cuvette. Diam. 56 mm.


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Grading System
Case: 8

Slightly scratched
Movement: 4

Fair
Dial: 1-51

As new

Partially reprinted

Notes

Note: Invented by Mudge circa 1760, the lever escapement was used by few makers in England and even less in France, including Breguet and Robin, during the last two decades of the 18th century. But clue to the lack of "draw " it was then abandoned in favour of the duplex escapement in England, the detent escapement in France or Switzerland. After the invention by Breguet, circa 1810 of the lever escapement with "draw" , it was reintroduced by the best makers and progressively replaced the cylinder escapement for the best quality watches. The lateral lever escapement of this watch is typical of the earliest levers escapement with "draw", as produced in Switzerland from circa 1818.