The Sandberg Watch Collection

Hotel Richemond, Geneva, Mar 31, 2001

LOT 181

Breguet et Fils, No. 3001 / 2091, sold to Codja Ojami for 3750 piastres on October 1, 1817.Very fine and rare 22 ct. gold and enamel 'cabriolet' quarter repeating watch, with a special escapement, made for the Islamic market.

CHF 100,000 - 120,000

USD 60,000 - 70,000

Sold: CHF 124,500

C. By Joly. Outer: two-body, the back in red translucent champlevé enamel over barleycorn engine-turning with gold repeated floral motives separated by an eight-looped ribbon, a gold rosette in the centre. Inner: three-body, the back with a very finely enamel painted sunset in the countryside with a lake in the foreground, the edges in scarlet translucent enamel over engine-turning, the border set with gold flowers. Bezels in matching scarlet enamel with gold laurel leaf decoration. Detachable gld cuvette with apertures for winding and regulating secured by a single eccentric screw. D. By Lucard. White enamel with Turkish numerals, outer minute ring with Turkish 15-minute marks, small gold eight-pointed compass rose in the centre, secured by a screw. Blued-steel Breguet hands. M. 33.4 mm o, gilt brass bridges, 6 jewels, free-standing barrel with Breguet's continuous stop-work, ruby cylinder escapement, top pivot with a pare-chute, regulator with a pin protruding through the cuvette, reeating on two gongs with two hammers activated by pull-and-twist piston in the pendant.Signed on the cuvette and the dial, case stamped with serial number, casemaker's mark and French quality marks for 22 ct..Diam. 46 mm. Published in the Sandberg book, pages 282-283.


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Grading System
Grade:
Case: 2

Very good
Movement: 2*

Very good

Overhaul recommended, at buyer's expense
Dial: 2 - 01

Notes

The present watch was shipped to Leroy, Breguet's agent in Constantinople on 22 May 1817 who delivered it fivemonths later.The use of 22 ct. gold is another indication of the superior quality of the case. Although Breguet used all three French gold standards for his cases, that is 18 ct., 20 ct. and 22 ct., the latter is the rarest.The only other example known with the serial No. 2951, was sold by Antiquorum, in October 1997, lot 31.The enamel painter has very skilfully used sunburst engine-turning and translucent enamel to render a countryside sunset, with the last rays of sunlight being reflected in the lake.A 'cabriolet' case is one in which the inner case can be inserted either way, making the watch a hunting-cased or an open-face watch.Breguet et FilsFor a biography, see page 229