The watch is one of the best early chronometers built by Berthoud along the principles deposited in the sealed packet at the French Academy of Sciences in 1792 (see note to lot65). He demanded 2400 livres (100 gold Louis) for them. Since Berthoud finished his first one in 1786, this watch must be one of the first made by him on the principles of Garde Temps. It is interesting that it employs friction rollers on the bottom pivot and jewel on the top one, the dial is of regulator type, as the first one no 9-2280 (see lot 65), however with motion train. It is clear that the watch is continuation of Berthoud’s design for the revolutionary then portable precision timekeeper, for which he obtained the highest French National awards with distinction and 6000 livres (see note to lot 65). The Berthoud workshop books, which have been preserved, were only begun in February 1791, and therefore, the watches produced before this date are recorded only if they were returned to the workshop to be overhauled or restored, which is not the case of this chronometer which apparently was never returned during Berthoud's life. However, an annotation in his general notes states that two watches were ordered by Prince Radziwill, a repeater for 60 Louis and another, the description of which corresponds to the present watch, for 100 Louis, along with the remark that they were to be delivered to Monsieur Grand before the end of the year (1789). Monsieur Grand was Radziwill’s banker in Paris. For a biography of Louis Berthoud, see page 125. Karol II Stanislaw Radziwill, "Panie Kochanku" (February 27, 1734- November 21, 1790) palatine of Vilna. One of the richest men in Europe. The estates of Prince Karol Radziwill covered approximately 27,000 square kilometers (almost the size of Belgium). His annual income was approximately 18,000,000 zlotys or 500,000 pounds sterling. In 1764 his private army had 5,000 troops. He was first elected senator when only 14 years old. In 1762 he was named governor of Lithuania. In 1763, after the death of King August III, Prince Radziwill made efforts to elect August’s son as the next king. All his life he opposed the Russian influence and tried to avoid the annexation of his homeland to Russia. Despite his efforts, he was unable to stop Stanislaw II Poniatowski, protégé of Catherine II of Russia, from coming to power and becoming the last king of Poland (1764-1795). Prince Radziwill continued to oppose the Russian influence and headed the Radom Confederation in 1767. The Polish Constitution, the so-called May Constitution, one of the most important documents in the Polish history, was prepared by the senate in his palace, now the President’s palace. He was a descendant of one of the oldest Polish/Lithuanian families, whose motto, "The Lord is Our Counsel", can be found on the coat-of-arms. Many outstanding politicians, military commanders, clergymen, cultural benefactors and entrepreneurs who left a significant mark on the Polish and Lithuanian history and culture came from his family. We are indebted to Mr. Piotr Witt and Andrzej Dobosz from Librairie Dobosz , 7 rue de la Bûcherie, 75005 Paris for the portrait of Prince Radziwill by Konstanty Alexandrovich, in the Radziwill Palace at Nieborow.