Important Collectors’ Wristwatches, P...

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

LOT 25

"A Monsieur Regnault" Breguet, No. 4215, sold to Monsieur Regnault on September 22, 1826, for 1,080 francs. Extremely fine and rare, small, "Moyenne à 1 Aiguille" (Souscription), 18K gold pocket watch with ruby cylinder escapement.

CHF 25,000 - 30,000

EUR 16,000 - 20,000 / USD 20,000 - 25,000

Sold: CHF 33,040

C. Three-body, "forme collier", No. 282, by Joly (master mark), engine-turned with polished bezel and border. D. White enamel with Breguet numerals, outer five minute, quarter-hour and half-hour track. Blued steel "Souscription" hand. M. 44 mm., 20''', gilt, souscription caliber, central barrel wound from the back or front, overhanging ruby cylinder escapement, plain three-arm balance with parachute on the top pivot, blued steel flat balance spring, index regulator with bimetallic temperature compensation curb. Dial and movement signed. Diam. 49 mm.


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Grading System
Grade:
Case: 3

Good
Movement: 3*

Good

Overhaul recommended, at buyer's expense
Dial: 3-40-44-01

Good

HANDS Original

Notes

It is interesting that in the Breguet archives the watches familiarly known as "Souscription" are, after about the mid 1820s, described as "Moyenne à 1 Aiguille". Most souscription watches were sold between 1796 and about 1815, after this date the souscription type was still being made but probably not paid for by installments as in earlier years, hence the subtle change in name in the records for these watches. For a note about souscription watches, see pages 32-33.