THE ART OF BREGUET
Geneva, Hotel Des Bergues, Apr 14, 1991
LOT 70
A Monsieur le Comte François Potocki Watch No. 3773, sold on 10 March 1822 ,for the sum of 2400 Francs. Gold and silver hunting-cased watch with quarter-repeating. Original Breguet red leather fitted case.
CHF 60,000 - 80,000
Case: 18 ct., three body, quatre baguettes form, by Joly, No.2459, with silver band, the gold cover
and back engine-turned à grains d'orge. Gold
cuvette signed: "Faite par Breguet No.3773".
Dial: Engine-turned silver behind a glass, with
Roman numerals on a plain reserve. Blued-steel
Breguet hands.
Movement: Gilt brass, 20"', bar caliber, with
overhanging ruby cylinder escapement, three-arm
plain brass balance, with parachute on the top
pivot. Blued-steel flat balance spring with
bimetallic compensation curb. Repeating on two
gongs with two hammers, the pull-twist piston
mounted in the band.
In very good condition.
Diam. 52 mm.
Notes
Note: A fine example of a hunting-cased watch, with the repeating piston mounted in the band, there are nevertheless some unusual details about its construction. Firstly the signature " Faite par Breguet" is uncommon. Furthermore, in order to give the watch as slim an appearance as possible, the curvature of the case has been tapered towards the edge, with the resulting border around the dial neatly disguised by a fine rope-twist bezel. To reduce the tIickness of the movement to the minimum permitted by the caliber, the escape wheel cock is recessed to lower the balance. Both back and front covers are opened by the push-piece in the pendant, a refinement that did not usually appear in hunter watches until the late 19th century.