Important Collectors’ Wristwatches Po...

Geneva, Hotel Des Bergues, Oct 21, 1995

LOT 339

Breguet No. 873, made with an early movement from the 1820's. Fine 18 ct. gold, moon phase astronomical pocket chronometer.

CHF 55,000 - 65,000

C. Three body, "forme quatre baguettes", engineturned. Gold detachable cuvette. D. Silver engineturned with Roman numerals on a polished chapter ring, sunk subsidiary seconds and moon phase aperture with moon calendar on the border. Blued steel Breguet hands. M. 21"', gilt brass half plate, fusee with chain, female winding square and maintaining power, 15 jewels, Louis Berthoud type pivoted detent escapement, and three-arm compensation balance with three trapezoidal poising weights and timing screws, free sprung blued steel helical balance spring, ruby endstone. Signed on the dial, cuvette and movement. In very good condition. Diam. 53 mm.


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Notes

It appears that this watch had a very convoluted history. According to the No. 1178, punched on the front plate, it was bora as a counter, lost and written of on 14 December 1820 for 50 Francs. Discovered among the work in progress of Weber on 31 December 1833, it was re-entered in the stock for 50 Francs. By that time, Weber was Breguet's workshop foreman. Nothing is known after this date. Due to the type of gilding, most in favour during the second half of the 19th Century, one might think this pocket chronometer remained unfinished for several years and was completed between 1838 and 1919, according to the hallmark, in use for that period only. Apparently the completed watch was never entered in the stock under the No. 873 and it is therefore impossible to know when it was sold, nor its price.