History: Although the sales book notes that this watch was sold to the Comtesse Anne Orloff- Tchumirsky (sic), the original Notice (certificate) issued the same day is in fact made out in the name of her husband, Msr. Le Comte Orloff. It was returned for repair on 3 August 1853 by the Count, who gave his address as the Hotel Bristol, Place Vendome, along with another of his watches No. 4435. The next repairs were made for his wife on 23 October 1856 and 2 March 1857, each time for the fitting of a new crystal. Note: Breguet termed this watch as a Première Classe repeater of 4ème grandeur.
ALEXIS FIODOROVITCH, PRINCE ORLOFF (1786 -1861)
Alexis Orloff, born in St. Petersburg on 19 October 1786, was to revive the fortunes of the family to their former glory. Entering the army at a young age, he took part in the campaigns during the First Empire, becoming Adjutant to the Grand Duke Constantin. As a Colonel in the Horse-guards it was Alexis, who, arriving first on the scene, dispersed the rioters and saved the life of the Czar Nicholas I on the 26th December 1825. Created a Count and made Adjutant-General as a reward, Orloff commanded a division of Infantry in the war of 1828 against the Turks. The following year he negotiated so successfully with the Porte the treaty of Andinople, that he was acclaimed as a master of diplomacy. The Czar placed such confidence in Orloff that he was to be sent on all important diplomatic missions between 1828 and 1853, his skill providing much of the impetus behind Russia's powerful position throughout Europe at the time. Returning from a mission to Constantinople in 1830, he was sent to the headquarters of Marshal Deibitsch in Poland to try and ascertain the reasons for the Russian army's slow progress against the Polish insurgents. By chance, the deaths of both Marshal Deibitsch from cholera, and the Grand Duke Constantin, were to occur shortly after Orloff visit; he was accused of having poisoned them both. In 1832 he suborned a revolt by the military in the South, caused by the cholera outbreak, and afterwards visited London where he vainly attempted to support the Dutch claims to retain the Belgian provinces. The following year was somewhat more successful: promoted to General in charge of the army sent to help the Porte against the currently victorious Ibrahim-Pacha (see lot 82), Orloff defeated the Egyptian forces and at the same time negotiated with Turkey the famous treaty of Hunkiar-Skelessi, agreed on the 5th of May 1833. He was awarded the Cross of St. Andrew, made a General in the Cavalry as well as a member of the Council of the Empire. After organising the marriage of the Czarevitch, later Czar Alexander 11, he was to become the Prince's adviser, following the death of Prince Lieven in 1839. In 1844, he accompanied the Czar Nicholas on his visits to London, Palermo and Rome, and again in 1853 he was present at the conferences in Berlin and Olmutz. However, during the Crimean war of 1854, Orloff position was to become somewhat delicate. Sent to Vienna to convince the Austrian court to support the Russian cause, he was to fail dismally in his mission, for the Germans could not forgive him for the arrogance he had shown towards them in the preceding years. Although a set-back, it in no way reduced his position of influence with the Czar, who commended him to his son as he lay on his death-bed. As plenipotentiary ambassador for Russia at the Treaty of Paris in 1856, Orloff managed to obtain the most favourable terms possible for his country; indeed, his skillful negotiations laid the ground for the future alliance between Russia and France. As further reward for his services to the Empire, he was made a Prince of Russia, named President of the Council of the Empire and the Council of Ministers on the occasion of the Coronation of Alexander II. Prince Orloff was a man of great stature, a certain rugged handsomeness and strong, even overbearing character.