Important Watches, Wristwatches and C...

Geneva, Hotel Des Bergues, Oct 12, 1996

LOT 315

Breguet No. 3237, sold to Monsieur Chalabre on 5th April 1820 for 6000 Francs. Very fine and rare 18K gold, quarter repeating watch constructed stir le principe des Garde-Temps, with centre seconds.

CHF 60,000 - 70,000

Sold: CHF 69,000

C. Double body, by Tavernier No. 3663, "forme collier", engine-turned "a grains d'orge", the back with bayonet fixing made by Joly, No. 5120. D. Silver engine-turned, by Tavernier, with Roman numerals on a polished chapter ring and a small semi-circular regulator aperture. Gold Breguet hands. M. 17"', gilt brass, bar calibre, the going barrel with female winding square, counterpoised straight line lever escapement, long lever with draw, the escape wheel with oil retention slots, bimetallic three-arm compensation balance, balance spring with terminal curves. Repeating on a single gong with one hammer through a steel intermediate spring block, with pull-twist piston through the pendant, Slow/Fast regulation and hand setting square, through the band. In very good condition. Signed on the dial. In very good condition. Diam. 44 mm.


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Notes

By the time it was sold for 6000 Francs in 1820, this watch was among the most expensive, then produced by Breguet. Of exceptional quality, it illustrates all the features that are normally to be found in a modern precision timepiece: centre seconds, all the main pivots running in jewelled bearings, counterpoised and adjustable straight line lever escapement with draw, Breguet balance spring with terminal curve. In view of such an advanced technical specification, it is not surprising that in 1833, the firm was to rebuild the watch to an "as new" condition. Bought back on 21st December 1822 for 1301 Francs, restored completely to as new condition with a new case back made by Joly. The watch was resold to Monsieur Pedro de Domecq on 11th November 1833, under the No. 5120, for 4000 Francs. Altogether with lot 310 these two Garde-Temps, are extremely fine examples of the top quality watches ever produced by Breguet, at the beginning and at the end of his career.