History: The repair books record that this watch was still the property of the Marquis de San Adrian (Marquis de Santiago) when returned for overhaul on 13 July 1825. It was again repaired by Breguet on 20 July 1857, at the request of Monsieur Salveta, rue Bergère No. 11, Paris. Note: Decorative watches in gold and enamel, made by Breguet, are relatively rare and were essentially made in only two forms. One type, often large watches with pair-cases, striking movements and enamelled with flowers, coastal scenes or paillon decorated,was destined for the Islamic market, and usually sold through Breguet's agent Le Roy, in Constantinople. The others were practically all montres médaillon a tact ( such as this lot), with translucent enamelled covers and the "touch-pieces" and à tact arrow in pearls or diamonds; the decorative elements remained largely functional , the only concession being an applied motif on the back of symbolic or heraldic significance, such as a crown or monogram. Such watches, less austere in appearance than Breguet's usual production, enjoyed a certain success despite their high price, and virtually every member of the Bonaparte family owned at least one example.
JOSÉ MARIA MAGALLON Y ARMENDARIZ 5th Marquis of San Adrian and Marquis de Santiago (? - 1845) José Maria Magallon y Amendariz, 5th Marquis of San Adrian and of Castelfuerte, Senor of Monteagudo and Ezca, Grande de Espana and Knight of the order of Calatrava. He married Dona Maria de la Soledad Isidra Rodriguez de los Rios y Sanchez de Mortaing Suso de la Vega, Marquesa of Santiago and of la Cimada, Countess of Zuewghem, and adopted her title, which he continued to use even after 1802 when he inherited his own. It is in fact the name that appears in the books at Breguet. The family seat was at Tudela near Pamplona, the capital of Navarra in Northern Spain. He was an enlightened democrat who did much to rejuvenate the economic prosperity of Navarra by encouraging the liberalisation of agriculture, and pushing through reforms to the police and local government. An ardent "Afrancesadors" - or Francophile - with many friends among the French aristocracy, he corresponded with the famous French philosopher Denis Diderot. The outstanding portrait of him was painted by Francisco Goya, in the same year that he purchased his watch from Maison Breguet and he is shown with a ribbon and seal hanging from the fob pocket of his breeches, which was in fact a customery way of carrying a watch at the time. Goya also painted his wife, the Marquesa de Santiago, in 1809.