L\'ART DE L\'HORLOGERIE EN FRANCE DE ...

Geneva, Hotel Des Bergues, Nov 14, 1993

LOT 166

Breguet à Paris No. 125, 5/85, completed in May 1785, certainly sold to Son Excellence Monseigneur le Maréchal Duc de Coigny. Very rare and fine 18 ct. gold, early dumb minuterepeating watch.

CHF 40,000 - 50,000

Sold: CHF 41,400

C. Three body, massive, by Amy Gros (master mark), polished, of the type used by Breguet for his earliest watches, engraved inside the back: " Léguée par testament de S. Ex. Mer. le Maréchal Duc de Coigny, en date du 20 Novembre 1817", and bearing the Paris Hallmarks for 1778. Gilt brass dust cap. D. White enamel with Roman numerals. Gold poker and beetle hands. M. Gilt brass full plate, with cylindrical pillars, fusee with chain, cylinder escapement, plain brass three armed balance, flat balance spring, gilt brass continental cock with diamond end-stone. Repeating on the case by depressing the pendant. The early minuterepeating work is very similar to that used by Breguet for the celebrated watch so called Marie Antoinette. Signed on the dial, dust cap and back plate. In very good condition. Diam. 46 111111.


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Notes

This watch was made before the records, currently preserved by Maison Breguet, were begun; it is therefore impossible to give an exact date of sale nor the price paid. The signature Breguet à Paris vas used up until 1791 and the fractional number, "5/85", used by Breguet at that time, indicates the date the watch vas completed. A very similar gold minute-repeating watch, No. 128 5/85, is described and illustrated by George Daniels in The Art of Breguet, page 140, fig. 70 ac. As far the Marechal died in 1821, the date engraved inside the case, was certainly that inscribed on the will. According to his birth date, the Marechal vas 48 in 1785, and it therefore seems certain that 11e was the first owner of this watch.