The Longitude at the Eve of the Third...

Geneva, Hotel Des Bergues, Oct 23, 1999

LOT 20

Breguet No. 4851, sold to Mr. Delaporte on10 February 1831, for 800 Francs.Fine two day marine chronometer, of small size, with single barrel.

CHF 18,000 - 22,000

Sold: CHF 21,850

C. Two body solid mahogany box, with sliding observation lid (replaced), brass external handles and fittings, brass bowl with threaded bezel, suspended in square pattern gimbals with rounded corners.D. Matted silver, the small chapter-ring with Roman hour and Arabic numerals, and symmetrical subsidiary seconds below. Blued steel "pear" hands. M. Brass full plate, with single going barrel, navette shaped platform No. 220, with spring detent escapement, bimetallic two armed balance. Free sprung blued steel helical balance spring with terminal curves.Signed on the dial.Accompanied by Breguet Certificate No. 3508.Dial diam: 95 mm.


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Grading System
Grade: AA

Very good

Case: 4

Fair

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

Notes

Such chronometers with a single going barrel, were developed by Louis-Clément-François Breguet, grandson of Abraham-Louis, following his return from Switzerland. Their movements were designed to be manufactured at a much lower cost than the regular double barrel then produced by the firm for the Navy. They were usually sold the the Merchant Navy or individual clients.Louis Philippe, (1773 - 1850), Roi des Français, was born in Paris,6 October 1773. He was the eldest son of Louis-Philippe Joseph and Louise-Marie-Adelaide of Bourbon-Penthièvre and carried successively the titles of Duc de Valis, Duc de Chartres and Duc d'Orléans.The severe education that he received from Mme de Senlis caused him to greet the French Revolution with enthusiasm, but because of his reactionary views he was forced to take refuge in Switzerland whence he moved to Germany, Scandinavia and the United States. He returned in 1801 settling in England where he lived until 1807.After his marriage with Marie-Amélie, daughter of Ferdinand IV of Naples, he lived in Sicily. He sired five sons and three daughters. He did not return definitively to France until 1817, and it was then that he took to a bourgeois style of life and to frequenting politicians, merchants and writers of the opposition camp.In 1830, the white hope of the bourgeoisie, he accepted the tri-colour flag. Proclaimed Lieutenant-General of the country,31 July, he became 'King of the French', 7 August 1830. His reign lasted until 1848. Four groups of opponents formed against him, the legitimists, the bonapartists, the republicans and the socialists, the latter fomenting plots and even assasination attempts against him.His royal authority chiefly imposed itself in the domain of foreign policy, but his peace policy was one of the main reasons for his increasing unpopularity. His reign was signaled by the conquest of Algeria and economic expansion as well as by feverish speculation and growing poverty among the workers.The fall of Louis-Philippe was caused by the intransigent conservatism of Guizot who refused all electoral reform. Louis-Philippe abdicated in favour of his grandson the Comte de Paris,24 February 1848, but the latter was refused. The dethroned monarch found refuge in England where Queen Victoria placed her residence of Claremont, Sussex, at his disposal. There he died 26 August 1850.