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Hotel Nogalhilton Geneve, Nov 11, 2001

LOT 315

Breguet, No. 2791, "Montre Médaillon à quantième", sold on October 12, 1818, to Duc de Berwick for 4,800 francs, returned to Breguet 20 years later and immediately sold to Anthony de Rothschild.Very fine and rare 20K gold small "convertible" watch with eccentric dial, date and regulator set on the dial built on the principles of the "Garde Temps", with a short gold chain and Breguet key, in later Breguet morocco fitted box.

CHF 40,000 - 50,000

USD 25,000 - 31,000

Sold: CHF 39,100

C. Outer: two-body, "forme quatre baguettes", spring-loaded and engine-turned, inner: three-body, also "forme quatre baguettes" engine-turned with winding aperture in the back, band with three push-pieces for adjusting the date and regulator. Both cases made by Tavernier, No. 3483. D. Silver, eccentric, made by Tavernier, No. 791, set in the lower part, Roman numerals in polished round cartouches, outer minute dot divisions, center in "basket" pattern engine turning, date aperture below XII o'clck with small applied gold arrow indicating the center, regulating aperture at I o'clock. Gold Breguet hands. M. 29,6 mm (11 1/2'''), gilt brass, hanging barrel, straight-line calibrated lever escapement with draw, brass escape wheel with very fine oil retention holes, three-arm cut-bimetallic compensation balance with steel/platinum lamina, three gold mean screws, six platinum temperature screws, double roller with gold "arrow" dart, blued steel flat balance spring, entire train jeweled, the esapement also capped, pare-chute suspension on both pivots, female winding.Signed on dial and movement, case numbered.Diam. 36 mm.


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Grading System
Grade:
Case: 3

Good
Movement: 3*

Good

Overhaul recommended, at buyer's expense
Dial: 3 - 01

Notes

One of the smallest Breguet watches made on the principle of the "Garde Temps". All components are exceptionally finished, the escapement with its perfect draw and extremely small oil retention holes would be difficult to make better today. The balance, also exceptionally finished, has unusual steel weights inside the free ends of the bimetallic segments. It is extremely rare, even for Breguet, to find such a small watch finished with such precision. Breguet made some, but very few, less than fiteen. The Duke paid for it handsomely. Breguet made only about 120 watches in his career that were more expensive.Edouard Fitz-James, Duke of Berwick (1776-1838)Was the great-grandson of the famous Maréchal de Berwick, illegitimate son of King Jacques II. Born in Versailles in 1776, he was named premier aide de camp and gentilhomme de la chambre to the Count d'Artois, the brother of Louis XVI. He followed him to Lyon in 1815, in an attempt to stop the victorious march of Napoleon after his escape from Elba. After the second Restoration of the monarchy, he was made "Pair de France" by King Louis XVIII. The Duke of Berwick took an active part in the "Chamre des Pairs", defending the monarchy, but also fighting for freedom of the press and the right to free speech.Anthony de Rothschild (1810-1876)The second son of banker Nathan Meyer de Rothschild. The Rothschild bank was instrumental in supporting the Allies in their military campaign to defeat Napoleon.