Important Wristwatches, Watches & Clocks

Geneva, Hotel Des Bergues, Oct 17, 1992

LOT 87

Breguet & Fils, No. 2382, Horloge Marine, Lette 1 sur le cadran, sold to Ducom on 25 August 1815, for 1500 Francs. Bought back on 16 June 1816, for the same price, sold to Mr. Sakellard on 12 May 1818 for 1200 Francs.

CHF 70,000 - 90,000

Sold: CHF 92,000

Very fine and rare small two day marine chronometer en forme de tabatière, gimballed in mahogany box. Two part solid mahogany box , with sliding observation lid and a large brass handle on the top. Green velvet lined weighted brassbowl suspended ingimbles and locked from the bottom by a srew. Case in three parts, en forme de tabatière, the back with bayonet fixing, the bezel secures by two knurled screws, the winding hale in the bottom is brass lined and protected by a rotatable escutcheon plate, with eccentric hole for the key and without a return spring. White enamel dial, marked wit letter "I", with Roman numerals and subsidiary seconds. Blued steel Breguet hands. Unusual small brass half plate movement, the fusee with maintaining power, Spring detent escapement, bimetallic three armed balance with poising and timing screws, free sprung blued steel helical balance spring with terminal curves. Signed on the box, dial and movement. In very good condition with original ratchet key. Dial dIam. 71 mm. Dim. 11 x13x13 cm.


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Notes

Very few marine chronometers were produced during Breguet's life. This is a very good example, made just before Breguet was appointed as maker of the Marine Royale. However still with fusee and chain, the layout of the movement is typical of Breguet's design. The case, en forme de tabatière, which can be used either in the gambles, when used at sea, worn in the pocket or set on a desk, was invented by Louis Berthoud. Very few chronometers of this type are known and none of them is recorded in Daniels : The Art of Breguet.