Important Collectors’ Wristwatches, P...

Geneva, Mandarin Oriental Hotel Du Rhône, Oct 15, 2006

LOT 23

?A Madame la Générale de Nuiblourg? Breguet, No. 4097. Sold to Madame la Générale de Nuiblourg on June 5, 1824, for 1,500 francs. Very fine and extremely rare, small and thin ?montre simple médaillon?, constructed on the principles of the ?montre de souscription?, with front and rear central winding, ruby cylinder escapement and single hand, with a short gold chain and male ratchet key. Accompanied by original period certificate mentioning the chain and male key, dating from the sale of the watch, and signed by Louis Breguet.

CHF 140,000 - 160,000

EUR 90,000 - 100,000 / USD 115,000 - 130,000

C. Three-body, "forme quatre baguettes", No. 3940, by Tavernier (master mark), engine-turned, the back cover with central female winding aperture and rosette, secured by a single screw accessed from beneath the dial. D. Silver, radial Roman numerals and outer dot five-minute divisions, engine turned center, aperture for the regulator above 6 o?clock. Blued-steel ?Breguet Souscription? hand. M. 33 mm., (15'''), frosted gilt, ?souscription? caliber, central barrel wound from the front or back, overhanging ruby cylinder escapement, three arm gold balance, the top pivot with parachute, blued steel flat balance spring, index regulator. Dial signed, case and movement numbered. Diam. 38 mm.


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Grading System
Grade:
Case: 3

Good
Movement: 3*

Good

Overhaul recommended, at buyer's expense
Dial: 3-01

Good

HANDS Original

Notes

The present watch is a very rare example of the use of the Souscription caliber on a small scale. The watch can be wound from both the back and the front and for simplicity and elegance uses the Souscription type single hand which indicates each five minutes elapsed. For ease of adjustment, the regulator is accessed through an aperture in the dial. It is exceptional to find a watch with its original period certificate signed by Louis Breguet. The Breguet registers record the original purchaser of this watch as being Monsieur Martini. For a note about souscription watches, see pages 32-33.