The Longitude at the Eve of the Third...

Geneva, Hotel Des Bergues, Oct 23, 1999

LOT 19

Breguet & Fils, Horlogers de la Marine Royale,No. 4514, made between 1825 and 1827.Very fine and rare silver Garde-Temps with twin barrels, accompanied by the original ratchet key, suspended from a short silver chain. Gimballed in original mahogany box.

CHF 120,000 - 140,000

Sold: CHF 146,500

C. Double body mahogany box with slide on the lid over the observation aperture. Brass bowl and gimballed suspension. Three body silver, polished, made by Amy Gros No. 755. Silver detachable cuvette. D. Frosted silver, the small eccentric hour ring with Roman numerals, outer minute ring intersecting with subsidiary seconds circle. Blued steel "spade and lance" hands. M. 26''', gilt brass, bar calibre with individually wound twin barrels, spring detent escapement with gold escape wheel, two-arm bmetallic compensation balance with poising and timing screws, pare-chute suspension on the top pivot, blued steel helical balance spring with terminal curves.Signed on the cuvette.Accompanied by Breguet Certificate No. 3836.Diam. 66 mm.


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Grading System
Grade: AAA

Excellent
Case: 3

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

Notes

This is one of the very rare pocket chronometers by Breguet, still within its original mahogany box with gimbal suspension.The original owner of this chronometer is unfortunately unknown but according to the certificate No. 2232, delivered by Breguet on June 11, 1884, it was sold at the time for 2400 Francs.In the explanatory pamphlet published shortly before his death in 1823, Breguet explains that this type of precision Garde-Temps was introduced to replace the old style pendules compteurs, which required to be stopped before they could be moved. Designed to be used on board a ship or for scientific observation, these watches are constructed on the same principle as the large 60-hour marine chronometers, with double barrels detent escapement and pare-chute suspension on both pivots.Both impressive and very elegant, this type of pocket chronometer, by its conception and design of the dial and movement, differs from all other timekeepers produced, at any time, by other makers in any country. Its importance for chronometers can be compared with that of the souscriptions for pocket watches.