Breguet No 5039, sold on December 1831 for 3000 Francs, to Baron Schickler. Important miniature and very slim 18 ct. gold early keyless watch, constructed on the principle of the "garde-temps" and one of only 16 examples. | Important Collectors Wristwatches, Pocket Watches, Clock | Geneva, Hotel Des Bergues, 20th October 1991

Important Collectors Wristwatches, P...

Geneva, Hotel Des Bergues, Oct 20, 1991

LOT 263

Breguet No 5039, sold on December 1831 for 3000 Francs, to Baron Schickler. Important miniature and very slim 18 ct. gold early keyless watch, constructed on the principle of the "garde-temps" and one of only 16 examples.

CHF 140,000 - 160,000

Sold: CHF 149,250

C. Three piece, "quatre baguettes", engine-turned "à grains d'orge". D. Gold engine-turned, eccentric chapter-ring with Roman numerals. Blued-steel Breguet hands. M. 7 " (16 mm.)gilt brass with all steel bridges, bar caliber, 18 jewels,keyless winding and hand -setting, five wheel train, counterpoised adjustable straight line lever escapement, two-armed blued steel and platinum balance, flat balance spring with index regulator. Signed on the dial, numbered on the front plate. In good condition. Diam. 18 mm.

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Notes

A similar watch was sold by this house on April 14th.1991, (The Art of Breguet), lot 95. This is without question the smallest watch with keyless winding and hand-setting produced by any firm before the advent of the wristwatch in the late 19th. century. As such it represents an important step in the development of the modern mechanical wristwatch and would appear to confirm that the firm of Breguet were the inventors of the combined keyless winding and hand-setting through the crown. For additional information, refer to the catalogue: T h e A r t o f B r e g u e t .