Important Collectors’ Wristwatches, P...

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

LOT 287

?Grande & Petite Sonnerie, Minute-Repeating Clockwatch? Breguet, No. 680. Made in 1925 and sold to Mr. Jean Dollfus on February 1st, 1926 for 13,500 Francs. Extremely fine and extremely rare, important, large, grande and petite sonnerie striking, 18K yellow gold, hunting-cased, keyless two-train clockwatch with trip minute-repeat and helical balance spring. Accompanied by a certificate.

CHF 160,000 - 200,000

EUR 100,000 - 125,000 / USD 130,000 - 165,000

Sold: CHF 187,000

C. Four-body, ?bassine?, solid, polished. Hinged gold cuvette. D. Gold, brushed chapter ring with radial Roman numerals, outer dot minute divisions, subsidiary seconds, engine-turned center and border. Gold ?spade? hands. M. 46 mm., 20???, frosted gilt, two-trains with tandem winding, 33 jewels, counterpoised straight-line lever escapement, cut bimetallic compensation balance with gold temperature adjustment screws and platinum meantime adjustment screws, special alloy helical balance spring, index regulator, striking and repeating on gongs, the repeat activated by a trip-slide on the band, grande sonnerie/petite sonnerie, silence/sonnerie selection levers under the bezel. Dial and movement signed, case numbered. Diam. 60 mm. From ?The Collection?


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Grading System
Grade:
Case: 2

Very good
Movement: 2

Very good
Dial: 2-01

Very good

HANDS Original

Notes

The present watch is made in the greatest tradition of Breguet, it is of very high quality and in superb condition Grande Sonnerie Striking: in which both the hours and the quarters are struck at each quarter. Petite Sonnerie Striking: in which "ting-tang" quarters are struck at the quarter hours, but in which the hour is only

Jean Dollfuss an industrialist, he was an important client of Breguet during the first half of the 20th century. He and his brother Louis bought many fine watches from Breguet, including: - a retrograde perpetual calendar pocket watch No. 4420, 1921 (lot 110 of the ?Art of Breguet? sale, Antiquorum, 1991); - an extra-flat platinum dress watch, No. 4344, 1921 (lot 140 of the ?Art of Breguet? sale, Antiquorum, 1991); - a spring detent center seconds chronometer No. 472, 1924 (lot 120 of the ?Art of Breguet? sale, Antiquorum, 1991); - a digital jumping hour dress watch No. 1285, 1926 (lot 137 of the ?Art of Breguet? sale, Antiquorum, 1991); - a lever pocket chronometer, 1928, No. 1939 (lot 105 of the ?Art of Breguet? sale, Antiquorum, 1991); - a split seconds pocket chronograph No. 2170, 1929 (lot 116 of the ?Art of Breguet? sale, Antiquorum, 1991); - a unique example of a tonneau-shaped perpetual calendar wristwatch in white gold No. 2516, 1929 (lot 173 of the ?Art of Breguet? sale, Antiquorum, 1991); - the present lot