THE ART OF BREGUET
Geneva, Hotel Des Bergues, Apr 14, 1991
A Monsieur de Castellane "Perpétuelle" watch No.26, sold on 27 February 1792, for the sum of 3300 Francs. Gold self-winding watch, with "à toc" quarterrepeating and winding indicator, constructed on the principals of the "garde-temps".
Case: 20 ct., polished, two body, by Mermillod,
typical of the first series of perpétuelle watches.
Dial: White enamel, by Droz, signed: "Breguet",
with Breguet numerals, five-minute divisions
marked by fleur de lys, the minutes by small stars,
subsidiary seconds and a sector for the up-anddown
scale calibrated to 60 hours. Blued-steel
Breguet hands.
Movement: Gilt brass, 19.5"', signed on the edge of
the dial plate: "Inventé par Breguet à Paris, No.
26", full plate caliber, the back relieved for the
escapement, two barrels wound automatically by
an oscillating platinum weight of ogival form and
pivoted on the edge of the back plate. The weight
locked by a rising pawl when fully wound, the arc
limiting spring fitted to the edge of the case. Fivewheel
train, unjewelled, with an intermediate
wheel to provide a 60 hour going period.
Experimental lateral lever escapement, without
draw, with gold lever, steel pallets with enclosed
pallet jewels, and double roller with integral arc
limiting slots, additional banking pins mounted
on the watch plate. Arnold type two-arm
bimetallic compensation balance with the
adjusting weights threaded onto the ends of the
rim. Blued-steel flat balance spring with
micrometer regulator adjustable through the edge
of the dial plate. The seconds hand can be unclutched
at-will for exact time setting by means of
a push-pin through the edge of the dial plate.
Dumb repeating on the case with a single
hammer by depressing the pendant.
In very good condition.
Diam. 53 mm.