A Monsieur Delaporte. Marine Chronometer No. 4851, sold on 10 February 1831, for the sum of 800 Francs. Two-day marine chronometer, of small size, with single barrel. | THE ART OF BREGUET | Geneva, Hotel Des Bergues, 14th April 1991

THE ART OF BREGUET

Geneva, Hotel Des Bergues, Apr 14, 1991

LOT 86

A Monsieur Delaporte. Marine Chronometer No. 4851, sold on 10 February 1831, for the sum of 800 Francs. Two-day marine chronometer, of small size, with single barrel.

CHF 35,000 - 45,000

Case: Two part solid mahogany box (rebuilt), with sliding observation lid, brass handles and external fittings, brass bowl with threaded bezel, suspended in square pattern gimbals with rounded corners.
Dial: Mat silvered, signed: "Breguet & Fils, No. 4851", the small chapter-ring with Roman hour and Arabic minute numerals, and symmetrically positioned subsidiary seconds ring below. Bluedsteel poires hands.
Movement: Brass plates, full plate caliber, with single going-barrel, navette shaped platform, No. 220, with spring detent escapement, bimetallic two-arm compensation balance. Free-sprung helical blued-steel balance spring with terminal curves.
In good condition. Diam. of dial: 95mm. Dim. 180 x 210 x 190mm.

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Note: Originally sold for an altogether more reasonable price than the double barrel examples, these small marine chronometers, constructed with a single barrel and without fusee were usually destined for use by the Merchant Marine or by individuals. It was in fact Louis Clément François Breguet, the grandson of Abraham-Louis, who was responsible for their development, following his return from Switzerland. He had, upon completion of his apprenticeship, been working there as a watchmaker to gain experience of Swiss production methods. The movement caliber was specifically designed to enable it to be manufactured at a much lower cost than the available competition, although retaining the quality of finish and precision indispensable in a marine chronometer.