Important Watches, Wristwatches and C...

Geneva, Hotel Des Bergues, Apr 18, 1998

LOT 335

French, bearing the apocryphal signature: Breguet & Fils a Paris, circa 1815. Fine and unusual silver Montre de Souscription.

CHF 5,000 - 6,000

Sold: CHF 8,625

C. Three body, "forme collier" with gold rims, engineturned, the band chased with interlaced decoration. D. White enamel, souscription type with divisions allowing to read time with a precision of two minutes with a single hand. Blued-steel souscription hand with tapered tip. M. Gilt-brass souscription type calibre with centre barrel, inverted cylinder escapement, plain brass three-arm balance with diamond end-stone and regulator. Diam. 59 mm


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Grading System
Grade: AA

Very good

Case: 7

Oxidized

Movement: *4

Fair

Overhaul recommended, at buyer's expense

Dial: 22-5

Later original

Poor

Notes

If it was made with the intention to mislead the buyer, this watch was certainly produced by a watchmaker who had never seen a genuine naonatre de souscripti.a7 in his life. Although it is bearing the apocryphal signature: Brcguei &Fits a Paris and made on the design of the insulin de souscription. as invented by Breguet, this copy cannot deceive anybody. The signature Breguet & Fils a Paris was never used by Breguet, the genuine sousenplum watches never had a case with chased band, and the movement, although built with the centre barrel, does not have the appearance of a genuine souscriplion one. This attempt of reproduction was obviously made at the request of a client and upon a simple description. It is a good example demonstrating the influence of Breguet, even on makers who never had the opportunity to study any watch produced by the eminent maker.