THE ART OF BREGUET
Geneva, Hotel Des Bergues, Apr 14, 1991
LOT 130
A Monsieur L.H.Dulles Chronometer No. 3357, completed on 28 October 1946,sold on 25 November 1959 for the sum of 900'000 Old Francs. Two colour gold keyless watch with one minute tourbillon . Original red leather fitted case.
CHF 150,000 - 200,000
Sold: CHF 270,250
Case: 18 ct., three piece, Empire style,No.B.3357, in white gold with bezels and bow in pink gold,
and reeded band.
Dial: Engine-turned silver, signed: "Breguet, No. 3357", with Roman numerals on a plain reserve,
subsidiary seconds and sector for the up-anddown
scale calibrated to "30" hours. Blued-steel
Breguet hands.
Movement: Rhodiumed, 19"', half plate caliber, by Victorin Piguet, with fausses côtes decoration
and signed: "Régulateur à tourbillon inventé par
A.L.Breguet - Brevet du 7 Messidor An 9," 21
jewels, going barrel, polished steel equidistant
three-arm tourbillon carriage revolving in one
minute, with lateral lever escapement, Guillaume
compensation balance. Blued-steel Breguet
balance spring with micrometer wishbone index
regulator .
In perfect condition
Diam. 50 mm.
Notes
Note: The tourbillon carriage is based on the design produced at the Ecole d'Horlogerie in Le Sentier in 1930 (op.cit.p.45). Apparently either four or five such watches were completed by Fritz Robert Charrue to the order of Breguet, Paris. Fritz Robert-Charrue, born in 1908, was undoubtedly one of the finest watchmakers of his age. Apprenticed to James Pellaton, he later succeeded him as teacher and Director at the Technicum in Le Locle. He is remembered as the creator of the smallest pocket watch "tourbillon" ever made.