THE ART OF BREGUET

Geneva, Hotel Des Bergues, Apr 14, 1991

LOT 3

Buyer Unknown Watch No.91/122, begun circa 1775, entered in the books on 7 November 1791 under No.122. Gold watch with "à toc" quarter-repeating.

CHF 30,000 - 40,000

Sold: CHF 43,700

Case: 20 ct., two body polished, by Gustave Mermillod (punched with the mark of the Fermiers Généraux Jean Baptiste Fouache et Dominque Compant, and the date letter "L" in use between 16 July 1774 and 15 July 1775).
Dial: White enamel, signed: "Breguet" with Arabic numerals (small repair on the edge). Gold hands. The gilt metal dial plate engraved: " No.91", the " No. 122", below the front plate under the hammer.
Movement: Gilt brass, full plate caliber, the back signed: "Breguet A Paris, No. 91", with turned Dillars, verge escapement, three-arm plain brass valance, with florally pierced and engraved bridge cock with steel end-plate. Blued-steel flat balance spring. Repeating with two hammers directly on the case by depressing the pendant.
In very good condition Diam. 47 mm.


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Notes

History: This watch is certainly one of the earliest made by Breguet after he set up in business in 1775. As the records did not begin until 1787 it was therefore not recorded at the time, but was entered into stock under No. 122 in 1791. Breguet gives no information relating to its manufacture, date of sale, nor the price and name of the buyer, which was not uncommon in the first stock book.

Note: The Arabic numerals are identical to those used by Jean Antoine Lépine from about 1770, and the signature is typical of Breguet's work prior to the Revolution. The case is stamped with the mark of Gustave Mermillod who is recorded as