A Monsieur Sam Bloomfield Watch No. 4376, constructed between 1824 and 1832 and never sold, but retained in stock at a price of 4000 Francs. Gold hunting-cased "Première Classe" watch with jump hours and half quarter-repeating, constructed on the principals of the "gardetemps". Original Breguet chain and key in red leather fitted case. | THE ART OF BREGUET | Geneva, Hotel Des Bergues, 14th April 1991

THE ART OF BREGUET

Geneva, Hotel Des Bergues, Apr 14, 1991

LOT 83

A Monsieur Sam Bloomfield Watch No. 4376, constructed between 1824 and 1832 and never sold, but retained in stock at a price of 4000 Francs. Gold hunting-cased "Première Classe" watch with jump hours and half quarter-repeating, constructed on the principals of the "gardetemps". Original Breguet chain and key in red leather fitted case.

CHF 140,000 - 160,000

Case: 18 ct., five body, quatre baguettes form, No. 177/1', engine-turned à grains d'orge. Gold cuvette signed: "Breguet No.4376". Reeded inner bezel.
Dial: White enamel, signed: "Breguet et Fils", with Roman numerals, concentric calendar ring and secret signature beneath "XII". Gold Breguet hands.
Movement: Gilt brass, 22"', bar caliber, with counterpoised straight line lever escapement with long lever, two-arm bimetallic compensation balance. Blued-steel Breguet balance spring. Repeating on a single gong with one hammer, with the slide in the band.
In perfect condition Diam: 60 mm.

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Notes

History: This watch remained in stock, for reasons unknown, since its manufacture. It is one of the few watches by Breguet that has survived in completely unused state with the original key, chain and fitted case.
Provenance: Monsieur George Brown, owner of Maison Breguet, sold this watch to Sam Bloomfield in the 1950's, and it remained in this most important American collection until shortly before the latter's death. Sam Bloomfield, himself an inventor and engineer of remarkable talent, formed an important collection of complicated and technical watches, including many Breguet's, during the 1960's and 70's.
Note: This watch is remarkable on several counts. Along with the previous lot, it is certainly one of the first produced with a slide to arm the repeating train. Furthermore, the layout of the movement is extraordinarily advanced for the period, the caliber being comparable to that used in Swiss watches of circa 1850. Unlike the majority of Breguet's watches constructed on the principles of' the garde-temps, the entire escapement is visible. The teeth on the escape wheel, are pierced for oil retention.