Important Collectors’ Wristwatches, P...

Geneva, Mandarin Oriental Hotel Du Rhône, May 13, 2007

LOT 284

?Au Vicomte de Rohan? Breguet, No. 2795. Sold on 11 June 1932. Very fine and extremely rare, 18K yellow gold, keyless pocket watch with minute-repeating, perpetual calendar, phase and age of the moon, power reserve indication. Accompanied by a certificate.

CHF 100,000 - 150,000

EUR 60,000 - 95,000 / USD 80,000 - 120,000

Sold: CHF 175,500

C. Four-body, polished, coin-edge band. Hinged gold cuvette. D. Gold, brushed chapter ring with radial Roman numerals, outer dot minute divisions and outermost seconds divisions, subsidiary dials for the seconds concentric with the date, days of the week and the months, power reserve sector below 12, aperture for the moon phases, the moon?s age at the edge, engine turned center and border. Blued steel ?Breguet? hands. M. 43 mm., 19???, rhodium-plated, ?fausses cotes? decoration, 36 jewels, straight-line lever escapement, cut bimetallic compensation balance with gold temperature and meantime adjustment screws, blued steel Breguet balance spring, index regulator, repeating on gongs activated by a slide on the band, chronograph button in the crown. Dial signed, case and movement numbered. Diam. 51 mm. From ?The Collection?


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Grading System
Grade:
Case: 3

Good
Movement: 3*

Good

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

Good

HANDS Original

Notes

The present watch is made in the very best tradition of Breguet and is an unmistakable product of the Breguet Company. The dial takes its inspiration from the complicated watches made by Breguet in the first quarter of the 19th century. This watch includes the features of perpetual calendar, minute repeating, moon phases and power reserve indication all of which Breguet pioneered the use of in his watches. The present watch was specially made upon order from the Automobile Club of France, for presentation to their President, the Vicomte de Rohan, in 1932. This watch was previously sold by Antiquorum, in The Art of Breguet sale, April 14, 1991, lot 129. The Vicomte de Rohan Born in 1884, a descendant of one of France?s oldest families, the Viscount had a degree in science and embarked on a career in medicine. He served as a fighter pilot in the First World War, being made Commander of the Legion of Honor. He subsequently abandoned medicine for business, becoming Chairman of the Société Française de Pétroles B.P. In 1928 he became President of the Automobile Club de France, as well as the National Federation of Automobile Clubs. His considerable prestige and talent as an organizer focused on the international arena of motor sport and tourism, as he played a major role in the early development of worldwide automobile regulation. By nature a man of action, he presided over the Motor sports commission of the French Automobile Club. He was appointed honorary President of both the World Tourism and Automobile Organization and the International Automobile Federation.