Contemporary, Limited Edition and Col...

New York, Grand Havana Room, May 13, 1999

LOT 210

Breguet, No. 21, 1990's. A set of two Souscription watches. The wristwatch 18K gold gentleman's minute-repeating astronomical wristwatch, perpetual calendar, phases and ages of the moon. The pocket watch 18K gold self-winding astronomical pocket watch with instantaneous calendar, moon phases and power reserve.

USD 130,000 - 150,000

Sold: USD 118,000

C. Circular, massive, reeded band. Glazed back over the movement. D. Engine-turned silvered gold, signed: "Breguet, No. 21", with Roman numerals on a plain reserve; small subsidiary rings for days of the week, months with concentric leap year indicator, the date and aperture for the moon phases, the ages engraved on the border. Secret signature on either side of "XII". Blued-steel hands. M. Rhodiumed maillechort, 12"' caliber 189.10, with "fausse cotes " decoration, 24 jewels, straight line lever escapement, monometallic screw balance with Breguet self-compensating balancespring. Repeating on two gongs, with two hammers, by means of a slide in the band. Dial, case and movement signed. Diam. 35 mm. C. Three part, massive, Empire form. Glazed back over the movement. D. Engine-turned silvered gold, signed: "Breguet, No. 21", with Roman numerals on a plain reserve, and Arabic figures for the remaining indications, subsidiary seconds, sector for Up-and-Down scale calibrated for 45 hours, apertures for the instantaneous date, and moon phases with the ages engraved on the border. Secret signature on either side of "XII" . M. Gilt brass, 22 "' , caliber 90, with automatic winding but capable of being manually re-wound if required, 28 jewels, straight line lever escapement with monometallic screw balance, with parechute on the top pivot. Breguet self-compensating balance spring. Platinium winding weight pivoted on the edge of the movement with spring banking, unidirectional winding automatically disconnected when fully wound, and two ball-bearing runners, one visible in the weight, to reduce friction in the pivot point, the arm of " S " form to provide elastic suspension and retained in balance by a double-ended spring. Dial, case and movement signed. Diam. 62 mm.


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Grading System
Case: 1

As new

Movement: *1

As new

Overhaul recommended, at buyer's expense

Dial: 1-01

As new

HANDS Original

Notes

The first Souscription set was specially made for the thematic auction The Art of Breguet, Antiquorum, Geneva, Sunday, April 14, 1991, lot 203. Contained in a polished burr walnut veneered casket, lined in paisley pattern fabric, with lockable drawer below containing a gilt magnifying glass, a calendar setting pin, a gold Breguet watch chain, and a polishing stick. Abraham Louis Breguet conceived the idea for the Souscription in 1794, another of the "inventions" resulting from his period of forced exile in Switzerland during the French Revolution. The concept was brilliant and simple, to offer a watch to his clients that could be reserved in advance and delivered upon completion.