Exceptional Horological Works of Art

Geneva, Oct 19, 2002

LOT 115

Breguet, No. 2044, sold to Monsieur Castaneda on January 14, 1807 for 3240 Francs. Extremely rare and equally fine 20K gold double-train quarter-repeating Grande Sonnerie clockwatch. Accompanied by a Breguet certificate.

CHF 150,000 - 200,000

EUR 100,000 - 130,000

Sold: CHF 168,500

C. Three-body, "Empire", engine-turned back, reeded band, detachable gilt cuvette with winding apertures, regulating and striking/silent, short round pendant, push-button at 6 o?clock on the band to activate repeater. D. White enamel, Breguet numerals, outer minute track, secret signature below 12 o?clock, secured by a screw. Blued steel Breguet hands. M. 53 mm. (23 1/2???), gilt brass full plate, ruby cylinder escapement, plain 3-arm brass balance, blued steel flat balance spring, pare-chute on the top pivot, interesting striking mechanism with the hour cam set on the minute wheel driven by four-leaf cannon pinion, repeating and striking on two gongs, repeating activating through a small push-piece at 6 o?clock. Signed on dial, cuvette and movement, case punched with the casenmaker?s mark. Diam. 62 mm.


LOADING IMAGES
Click to full view
Image
Grading System
Grade:
Case: 3 - 15
Movement: 3*

Good

Overhaul recommended, at buyer's expense
Dial: 3 - 21 - 01

Notes

Breguet made only about 80 striking clockwatches, some just with "petite sonnerie". This example employs an inte-resting system with the hour cam on the minute wheel, two-piece cannon pinion. Castaneda The name of Castaneda comes up in Abraham-Louis Breguet?s correspondence and appears frequently among the buyers in Breguet?s sales ledgers. As is explained by Emmanuel Breguet in his book, "Breguet Horloger depuis 1775", Mr. Castaneda was one of the courriers. These were specialized companies handling commercial transactions as well as the transport of merchandise, in this case between France and Spain. Mr. Castaneda must therefore have been a Spanish businessman who traveled regularly to France, liaising with important Spanish clients, and particularly the Spanish royal court.