History: Manufactured between 1808 and 1809, it was first sold on 4 April 1810, to Prince Aldobrandini, for the sum of 3000 Francs. Bought back on 8 April 1814 for 2000 Francs, it was sent by Breguet to Wenham, his agent in St. Petersberg, on 4 July 1814, for the sum of 3000 Francs, and sold to General Davidoff. According to the repair books, Davidoff returned the watch to Breguet on 2 November 1820, for overhaul, with a request that the back be engraved and enamelled with his coat-of-arms, as they now appear.
MAJOR-GENERAL DENIS DAVIDOFF (1784 - ?)
Denis Davidoff, soldier, was born in Moscow on 16 Joly 1784. From an early age he showed a passionate interest in all matters military, and was to take part in every war fought during the reign of Czar Alexander I_ In 1808 he joined the Finnish campaign attached to the advance guard under the command of the famous Koulhest, Major-General of the Hussars, later killed at Khaslitzy on 3 July 1812. In 1809 he was with the army of the Danube under the command of General Bagration, and in 1812 again with Koulhest. Promoted to General-Officer in 1815, lie held several commands over the following years in different branches of the army. General Davidoff combined his skill as a soldier with a remarkable literary talent. His success as a poet proved beyond doubt that the life of a warrior was not inevitably destined to destroy all artistic sensibilities. He chose as his subjects everything from war through friendship to the pleasures of smoking a cigar, but although several of his songs became popular favourites, the majority of his poetic writing remained unpublished.
F R A N C E S C O B O R G H E S E Prince de Aldobrandini Younger brother of Prince Camille, (who was married to Marie-Pauline Bonaparte, sister of Napoleon) , he entered into service with the French army in 1808 and on the 25th of March 1809, was appointed Colonel of the 4th regiment of Cuirassiers. He took part in the various battles leading to the capture of Vienna, and at Wagram led a series of brilliant charges during which lie was wounded. Napoleon, deciding that he needed the services of the prince, arranged his marriage to the daughter of the Countess Alexandra de la Rochefoucauld, Lady-in-waiting to the Empress Josephine. He was promoted to the rank of Brigadier-General on the 2nd of January 1812, and only a few days later became chief equerry to Napoleon, at the same time as his wife was appointed lady of the bed-chamber to the new Empress Marie-Louise. He received, on the 3rd of April, 1813, the Grand Cross of the order of the Reunion. An officer of the Legion d'Honneur, and awarded the Cross of Saint-Louis, he returned to Florence at the time of the Second Restoration, passing two years at the palace of his brother. Upon returning to France he continued to take a non-active interest in military affairs