Breguet No. 3688, sold to M. Demidoff on 22 November 1821, for 2400 Francs. | Important Wristwatches, Watches & Clocks | Geneva, Hotel Des Bergues, 17th October 1992

Important Wristwatches, Watches & Clocks

Geneva, Hotel Des Bergues, Oct 17, 1992

LOT 81

Breguet No. 3688, sold to M. Demidoff on 22 November 1821, for 2400 Francs.

CHF 80,000 - 100,000

Sold: CHF 126,500

Very fine and thinl8 ct. gold watch with two barrels, constructed on the principals of the garde-temps, with original gold male ratchet key and a silver protecting case. Double body engine-turned case, forme quatre baguettes, by Tavernier, No. 3831, the back with bayonet fixing. Eccentric engine-turned silver dial with Roman numerals on a plain reserve, small eccentric subsidiary seconds and sector aperture for the regulator, signed : Breguet No. 3688 . Gilt brass 22-movement, bar caliber, the twin going barrels separately wound with female winding squares, counterpoised straight line lever escapement with jewelled pallets and long lever, cut two armed bimetallic compensation balance with platinum and gold poising and timing screws, parachute suspension on both pivots, blued steel flat Breguet balance spring. Diam. 54 mm.

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Both supremely elegant and technically brilliant, this watch is an example in perfect condition of Breguet's most refined production for civil used. The two going barrels are fitted to provide uniform power source and to equalize the force applied to the center pinion and avoid excessive friction in the pivots. Invented for chronometers, they were also used for the highest quality of this watches construites sur le principe des garde-temps. Note the small gold plates attached to the barrel bridges, which are partly visible when the back is turned to "close" the winding apertures. Count Demidoff was among the most enthusiastic clients of Breguet, he was buying the best examples of his production.