Important Wristwatches, Watches & Clocks

Geneva, Hotel Des Bergues, Oct 17, 1992

LOT 89

Breguet Neveu & Cie., No. 4980, sold to M. Torcapel on 8 August 1834, for 1100 Francs, including 100 Francs discount.

CHF 18,000 - 22,000

Sold: CHF 34,500

Fine two day marine chronometer, with single barrel. Two part solid mahogany box , with sliding observation lid, external brass handles and fittings. Brass bowl with threaded bezel, suspended in rectangular pattern gimbals with rounded corners. Mat silvered dial, the small eccentric chapter ring with Roman hour and Arabic minute numerals, symmetrical subsidiary seconds below. Brass full plate movement, with single going barrel, navette shaped platform escapement No. 231, with sprig detent escapement, bimetallic two armed balance with poising and timing screws, free sprung blued steel helical balance spring with terminal curves. Dial diam. 95 mm. Dim. 18,5x21,5x19,5 cm.


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Notes

Such chronometers with a single going barrel, were developed by Louis Clement François Breguet, the grandson of Abraham Louis, following his return from Switzerland. Their movements were designed to be manufactured at a much lower cost than the regular double barrel then produced by the firm for the Marine. They were usually sold to the Merchant Marine or individual clients. The platform escapement, witch can be removed at any moment thank to a small device locking the going train automatically, even when fully wound, is another invention of Breguet. This disposition of the escapement is very cleaver for the train of wheel can be manufactured by a regular good clockmaker, while the escapement has to be made by a well trained chronometer maker. For the firs time, such an important part of a chronometer was interchangeable and whenever it was broken, could be replaced by another one in few minutes in order to return the chronometer to the client, while the escapement was sent to an able maker, to be restored .