From an European Collector This is one of the very early perpetuelles for which Breguet became famous. It is also one of the smallest. No. 1 from the first series is of a similar size (47 mm.), however the case is not original; No. 27 from the second series is 48.8 mm. in diameter, small but larger than that of the present watch. The watch is also important because of the escapement, which has concave and convex pallets to equalize the lift, and the safety measure represented by the lever withdraw. This appears to be the earliest known use of draw in Breguet watches. The watch has an important and interesting history. First sold about 1790, then bought back from Madame Sanzé on September 20, 1848, it was restored with minimal modifications, and sold to Brocot. The watch next appears in the registers in 1852 when it was brought back to Breguet for a small repair, on behalf of the Grand Duke Constantine of Russia. Apparently Brocot had either bought the watch for the Grand Duke or sold it to him. The fact that Brocot, one of the leading French horologists, considered the watch in 1852 worthy of being presented to His Imperial Highness Grand Duke Constantine Nikolaevitch speaks eloquently of its exceptional quality. Breguet Perpetuelles Breguet himself never claimed to be the inventor of the "perpetuelle", the name he gave to his self-winding watches, the earliest being produced in Switzerland by Abraham Louis Perrelet around 1770. These first examples were unsuccessful due to the inadequacy of the winding system, which virtually required the wearer to proceed at a run in order to keep the movement sufficiently wound. Breguet?s design was revolutionary by comparison, and incorporated several new "inventions" that were far ahead of their time: two barrels to enable lighter mainsprings to be used, a carefully balanced "weight" reacting to the slightest movement, and an additional train wheel to provide a going-period of up to 60 hours. The result was a watch that could be used by somebody leading a relatively inactive life, needing only a short time to recharge itself sufficiently to continue working, and could be left unattended for more than two days. The majority of his perpetuelle watches, even from the first series, were constructed on the principle of the garde-temps, with the main pivots jeweled, a detached escapement, and the balance with temperature compensation and elastic suspension (shock protection) on both pivots. Furthermore, they were fitted with a quarter-, or even a minute-repeating mechanism, a state of winding indicator, and in some cases a phase of the moon dial. Most of these innovations were unknown in France at the time, and until the invention of the wristwatch were considered the ultimate refinements able to be incorporated in an automatic watch. It is therefore little wonder that the introduction of such a watch brought much fame to its creator, with the majority being purchased by the most notable people of the day. Perpetuelles were among the most sought-after Breguets and cost an average of FF 4000, a very large amount for a watch at the time. Grand Duke Constantin Nicolaievitch of Russia (1827-1892) The second son of Tsar Nicholas I of Russia and Princess Charlotte of Prussia, in 1848 he married Princess Alexandra of Saxe-Altenburg, with whom he had five children. Constantin Nicolaevitch held many high positions in Russia, among them that of Grand Admiral and Director of the Ministry of the Marine. During the Crimean War, he led the Baltic fleet. Constantin Nicolaevitch, a liberal, played an important role in the measure emancipating the serfs, being charged with the superintendance of its execution. In 1862 he was made viceroy of Poland, where he played a conciliatory role, until the eruption of the Polish rebellion forced him to leave the country. In 1865 he was named President of the Council of the Empire. After the accession to the throne of Alexander III in 1881, Constantin Nicolaevitch lived a life of retirement.