Exceptional horologic works of art

Hotel Noga Hilton, Geneva, Oct 11, 2003

LOT 452

Breguet, No. 4580, sold to Monsieur Sharpe Smith on July 5, 1831, for 2400 francs. Very fine and very rare 18K gold Garde Temps watch with eccentric dial built ?sur les principes des chronometres?, in a red morocco fitted Breguet box. Accompanied by a certificate.

CHF 25,000 - 35,000

EUR 16,000 - 23,000

Sold: CHF 46,000

C. three-body, by master casemaker Tavernier, No. 4161, "forme quatre baguettes", engine-turned, bayonette fixed back. D. silver, by Tavernier, Roman chapter set in the top part, outer minute dot divisions, center engine turned in wickerwork pattern, outside the chapter with Barley corn pattern, regulating aperture at 6 o'clock. Gold Breguet hands. M. 36 mm (16''', gilt brass, large hanging barrel with continuous stop-work, 5-wheel train jeweled to the center with endstons on the entire escapement (23 jewels, straight line calibrated lever escapement, brass escape wheel with oil-retention holes, 2-arm cut-bimetallic compensation balance with gold and platinum screws, blued steel Breguet balance spring, double roller, pare-chute on the top pivot.Signed on the dial and the box, numbered on the movement, case and dial.Diam. 40 mm.


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Grading System
Grade: AAA

Excellent
Case: 3

Good
Movement: 3*

Good

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

Notes

Garde-Temps watches were made by Breguet to the highest possible standards. The price Monsieur Smith paid for the watch clearly reflects this; an ordinary gold watch could have been bought for less than 1000 francs. The escapement of this watch would serve as an example for watches made a century later.r.