The Longitude at the Eve of the Third...

Geneva, Hotel Des Bergues, Oct 23, 1999

LOT 16

Breguet No. 153/2461, Garde Temps, constructed between 1808 and 1809, sold to Monsieur Barillon de l'Ile de France le 29 Novembre 1810 pour 1900 Francs. Returned by Doctor Portier on January 21, 1826, it was bought back by Breguet on February 14, 1826, for 900 Francs. Renovated to new condition, transferred to No. 4570 and sold to Son Excellence l'Ambassadeur de Russie, Comte Pozzo di Borgo on July 25, 1826 for 2400 Francs.Extremely fine gold pocket chronometer with power reserve indication, in a contemporary style red leather fitted box.

CHF 130,000 - 150,000

C. Three body garde-temps type, by Mermillod No. 596, renovated by Joly, engine-turned à grains d'orge. Gold cuvette secured by a screw. D. Engine-turned silver by Tavernier with Roman numerals on a plain reserve, subsidiary seconds on chapter "XII" and half-moon sector for the 30 hours power reserve Up-and-Down scale. Blued steel Breguet hands. M. Gilt brass, 23''', early garde-temps calibre, the inverted fusee with maintaining power, pivoted detent escapement, four-arm bimetallic compensationalance with pare-chute suspension on both pivots, free sprung blued steel helical balance spring with terminal curves.Diam. 62 mm.Accompanied by Breguet Certificate No. 2993, delivered on October 29, 1962.


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Grading System
Grade: AAA

Excellent
Case: 3

Good
Movement: * 4 - 6
Dial: 3 - 5 - 01

Notes

The calibre of this movement is very similar to watches No.147 and 144/3288. It was begun at the same time, before Breguet's departure for Switzerland and not completed until some years after his return.Bought back by Breguet from Doctor Portier on February 14, 1826, for 900 Francs, this watch was renovated to new condition with a new silver dial by Tavernier and the cased restored by Joly. It was transferred to No. 4570 before being sold to Son Excellence l'Ambassadeur de Russie, Comte Pozzo di Borgo on July 25, 1826 for 2400 Francs. Subsequently, and always at the request of Comte Pozzo di Borgo, the watch returned for regular overhauls and adjustments on July 29, 1834, May 17, 1836, April 191842, June 29, 1842, January 9, 1844 and June 1, 1847. The escapement was restored on December 24, 1847 following an accident and further overhauls were carried out on November 9, 1848, January 30, 1852 and December 2, 1857, again on these occasions for Pozzo di Borgo, who was now noted in the books with the title of Duke. (Evidently, the owner took serious note of Breguet's advice suggesting that a precision watch should be overhauled every two years).Literature:Illustrated and described by George Daniels in The Art Of Breguet, p. 162, fig. 111 a-c.