THE ART OF BREGUET
Geneva, Hotel Des Bergues, Apr 14, 1991
LOT 84
A Monsieur le Comte Matuszewiz Watch No. 4578, sold on 23 September 1831, for the sum of 2900 Francs. Extra flat gold "simple" watch with calendar, constructed on the principal of the "gardetemps". Original Breguet short chain and gold key.
CHF 50,000 - 60,000
Sold: CHF 46,000
Case: 18 ct., three piece, quatre baguettes form, by Tavernier, No. 4187. Engine-turned à grains d'
orge, the back retained by a bayonet fixing
secured with a screw in the band.
Dial: Eccentric, engine-turned silver, signed: "
Breguet", with Roman numerals on a plain
reserve and calendar aperture below "VI". Gold
Breguet hands.
Movement: Gilt brass, 15"', extra flat bar caliber, the barrel with a female winding square,
counterpoised straight line lever escapement with
long lever, two-arm bimetallic compensation
balance, with elastic suspension on both pivots.
Blued-steel Breguet balance spring, with
slow/fast regulation through the band of the
case.
In very good condition
Diam. 42 mm.
Notes
Provenance: Formerly in the Sir David Salomons collection, No. 34. Sold at Christie's, London as lot 3, catalogue part I, on 1 December 1964. Literature: Illustrated and described in G. Daniels, The Art of Breguet, p.282, fig. 351 a-b.
Note: Of elegant design, with an eccentric chapter-ring and miniature calendar aperture, this diminutive and extra-slim watch, constructed on the principles of the garde-temps, is a fine example of the montre simple as made by Breguet for civilian use after 1823. It can be seen that the entire escapement is visible on the back plate, following the pattern of modern watches, as distinct from the movements made before 1820, where part is mounted below the dial.
Biography: Andreewitch Matsusewicz, son of Thadeus Matsusewicz, the former Finance Minister to Czar Alexander, who received the hereditary title of Count. Andreewitch was Russian Ambassador Extraordinary to the Court in England.