THE ART OF BREGUET

Geneva, Hotel Des Bergues, Apr 14, 1991

LOT 93

A Monsieur Melgounoff Watch No. 263, sold on 26 December 1837, for the sum of 1500 Francs. Small hunting-cased "simple" watch with "à tact" hand.

CHF 40,000 - 50,000

Case: 18 ct., three body, quatre baguettes form, by Tavernier, No. 209, engined-turned a grains d'orge, the band with gold touch pieces, the n tact arrow on the cover. Gold cuvette signed: "Breguet, No. 263".
Dial: White enamel, signed: "Breguet et Fils", with Breguet numerals, and five-minute divisions, the secret signature under "12". Bluedsteel Breguet lance hand.
Movement: Gilt brass, 14"', souscription caliber, with central barrel, overhanging ruby cylinder escapement, three-arm plain brass balance, with bimetallic compensaton curb on the regulator. Blued-steel flat balance spring.
In very good condition. Diam. 42 mm.


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Notes

History: Returned for overhaul on 16 January 1841, this watch was subsegentlyy bought back from Monsieur Melgounoff for the original sale price on 28 May 1841. It was resold on 5 October 1841, again for 1500 Francs, with the firm of Wyss & Co., acting as intermediaries.
Note: The à tact system used on this watch is of the simplest form developed by Breguet. In fact a hunting cased montre supple with single hand, the c tact pointer is mounted on the cover and attached to a steel disc on the interior, a section of which is sprung-loaded and comes to rest against the hand when revolved in a clockwise direction. The hour hand itself will pass under the sprung nib during normal operation.