History: The books and original Notice ( certificate) confirm that this watch, constructed between 1823 and 1828 was first sold on 1 November 1828 to the Marquis de Lamberville, for the sum of 8860 Francs. It was returned for overhaul at his request on 12 March 1847. On 29 December 1851, it was overhauled for Madame the Marquise de la Tour du Pin Montauban of 24 rue Saint Lazare, Paris. On 26 July 1853, the watch was again overhauled at the request of Monsieur Brunet, 26 rue de l'Ouest, Paris. Bought back from Monsieur Brunet on 16 February 1854, it was restored to perfect condition, transferred to No. 717 and resold to Moïana on 27 June 1854 for 8000 Francs. On 23 April 1855 and 2 January 1854, the watch was overhauled for His Majesty the Viceroy of Egypt, delivered by Moiana on both occasions. A further overhaul was undertaken on 8 October 1856, again for Saïd Pacha, and upon his death on 18 January 1863, it passed to his successor Ismaïl Pacha.
Literature: Illustrated and described in G. Daniels, The Art of Breguet, p. 271, fig. 332 a-c.
Note: This outstanding watch is without doubt the most complicated watch known that Breguet ever made of such small and slim dimensions; furthermore the firm was alone in being able to construct such a piece at the time. The provision of a pair-case is most unusual, particularly as the watch may be wound and the repeating operated in situ, by means of a revolving shutter and an additional slide. It must also be one of the first watches to be fitted with slide-armed re eating, the system that was to be universally opted for all watches of good quality in the latter half of the 19th century. It is interesting to note that although originally sold with a pair-case, it was not initially destined for the Islamic market, unlike almost all of Breguet's double-cased watches. Nevertheless the existence of such a case may well have been influential upon the choice of this watch by the Viceroy of Egypt when it was subsequently offered for sale in 1854.
Biography: Louise de Toryac, Marquise de la Tour du Pun (1770-1853), married to René de la Tour de Pin Montauban and de Soyans, General and Pair de France (1722-1837).
SAÏD PACHA, Viceroy of Egypt from 1854 to 1863 ISMAÏL PACHA Viceroy of Egypt from 1863 to 1879 Said Pacha became Khedive of Egypt on the death of Abbas 1st, in 1854. He was the fourth son of Muhammad-Ali, the founder of the Dynasty. Egypt was at the time under the domination of the Ottoman Empire, and limited in its degree of self-determination. Said Pacha had received a totally European education, and he therefore continued, and indeed enlarged, the programme of reforms begun by his father. Three of the most important were both enlightened and advanced in their outlook: the abolishment of slavery and the slave trade, the rights to pass on land and property from one generation to the next, which resulted in the growth of an important land owning class able to assist the sovereign in running the country, and the right of Egyptians to rise to the senior ranks in the army. Certainly the most important event of his reign was the decision to authorise the building of the Suer Canal. Being greatly influenced by the French, he gave the construction rights to Monsieur de Lesseps, taking shares in the Compagnie Universelle, which Rad been established to raise capital for the venture. Half of the shares were purchased by France, and 44% by Egypt; the English however, refused to take part, being totally opposed to a project that could result in their losing the dominant role in the shipping trade with India. Despite all his good intentions, Said Pacha Tacked the seriousness and determination required to truly reform and regenerate his country. The general situation was certainly improved, but only in half-measure. He, himself, travelled throughout Europe, spending vast sums of money and building up debts that remained to be paid off by his people. He died on 18 January 1863, to be succeeded by Ismail-Pacha, the oldest surviving son of Ibrahim- Pacha. Ismail-Pacha, again educated in France, attempted, throughout his reign, to accustom his country to European culture and customs. He introduced French schools in Alexandria and Cairo, and established a theatre in the latter, where the leading singers and entertainers from both France and Italy made regular appearances. In spite of the potential problems, he saw the construction of the Suez Canal as being in the national interest, but combined with Egypt's progress towards independence and a place in international affairs. He in fact obtained from the Sultan of Turkey the right of succession for his descendants by order of birth, and, in 1867 the hereditary title of Khedive for the sovereign of Egypt, along with the right to legislate and to negotiate the majority of international agreements. In 1873 he gained further concessions, including the responsibility for organising completely the administration of the country, and permission to set the number of troops in the army at his own discretion. In response to a demand from the elite, he allowed the people some semblance of participation in the ruling of the country. However, the expenses of government combined with the costs of various military campaigns resulted in the build up of massive debts, mostly contracted at extortionate rates of interest. In 1874, to avoid a financial catastrophy, Ismail sold the Egyptian interests in the Suez Canal to Disraeli, the British Prime Minister. Only two years later, the sovereign found himself again on the verge of bankruptcy and forced by the European powers to accept an organisation, based in Cairo, responsible for the control of the country's finances and the repayment of the outstanding debts. The result of this foreign management of the nation's finances was the establishement of a Conseil des Ministres comprised of three people : a Frenchman, an Englishman and an Egyptian. It precipitated a virtual revolution, and in response to such public outcry, the Khedive threw out the foreign governors. He had apparently gone too far, for the Ottoman Porte, under pressure from Great Britain, forced him to abdicate on 25 June 1879.