THE ART OF BREGUET

Geneva, Hotel Des Bergues, Apr 14, 1991

LOT 53

A Monsieur Le Prince Orloff Astronomical watch No. 2664, first sold on 20 August 1814, for the sum of 2025 Francs to a Monsieur Hawley de Londres. Property of Prince Orloff in 1877. Extra flat gold watch with phase and age of the moon, constructed on the principals of the " garde-temps".

CHF 80,000 - 100,000

Sold: CHF 143,750

Case: 18 ct., two body, quatre baguettes form, by Tavernier, No. 3290, the back attached by a bayonet fixing and engine-turned à Grains d'o r g e .
Dial: Eccentrie, engine-turned silver, signed: " Breguet & Fils", with Roman numerals on a plain reserve, aperture for phase of the moon, the age engraved on the edge, a small sector indicating iT e slow/fast regulator position. Gold Breguet hands.
Movement: Gilt brass, 19"', bar caliber, signed: "Breguet, No. 2664", twin going Barrels with female winding squares, counterpoised straight line lever escapement with draw and long lever, two-arm bimetallic compensation balance, the adjustable screws inset in the rim, with parachute on both pivots. Blued-steel flat balance spring with terminal curve.
In perfect condition, with later fitted leather case by Breguet. Diam. 54 mm.


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History: Repurchased on 27 April 1816, for 1500 Francs from Monsieur Hawley. Resold to Monsieur Gerugross on 30 September, for the sum of 2000 Francs. Overhauled for the account of Prince Orloff, 79 rue de Grenelle, Saint Germain, on 23 March 1877. Repurchased from Prince Orloff on 6 July 1922. Exhibition: This watch was exhibited in Paris at the Palais Galliéra, in October 1923, on the centenary of the death of Abraham Louis Breguet, Cat. No. 17.
NIKOLAI ALEXEEVITCH PRINCE ORLOFF (1827 - 1885)
A page to His Majesty Czar Nicholas I in 1845, Orloff was commissioned as a Sub-lieutenant in the Horse-guards and became an aide-de-camp to his Majesty in 1846. Promoted to Captain in 1848, he accompanied the Grand Duke Konstantin Nikolaevitch on the Hungarian campaign, distinguishing himself at Debretchine. He became a Colonel in 1852. As a soldier he was extraordinarily brave, being wounded nine times, including the loss of an eye at the battle of Arab-Tabiail; his courage was rewarded with the gift of a gold sword engraved with the salutation: All Brave. In 1856 fie was appointed as a Major General in the Cavalry of the Line. A member of the Czar's close circle of advisers, Orloff was despatched as a delegate to Brussels with the title of Plenipotentiary Minister for Russia, and although he was appointed as General aide-decamp to the Emperor in 1861, he nevertheless remained in Brussels until 1869. Further diplomatic postings followed: Russian Ambassador to London from 1869 to 1870 and a period in Paris from 1870 to 1874. Promoted to General of the Cavalry in 1878 he was named as Ambassador in Berlin where he stayed from 1878 to 1884. In 1860, the estates of the Prince Orloff numbered some 1454 tenants and 15900 hectacres at Pady Bobrov. He was married to Princess Ekaterina, daughter of Prince Nikolaï Ivanovitch Troubetzkoï and the Countess Anna Andreevna Goudovitch.