Thematic Auction in Geneva:The Evolut...

Hotel Noga Hilton, Geneva, Nov 16, 2002

LOT 346

Breguet No. 2097, movement by Patek Philippe No. 3524, sold by Breguet to Vicomte Aguado on May 7, 1852 for 1650 Francs.Very rare and important 18K gold half-hunting early keyless quarter-repeating watch.

CHF 3,000 - 4,500

EUR 2,000 - 3,000

Sold: CHF 3,450

C. Four-body, "bassine et filets", engine-turned back cover centered with Viscount Aguado's coat-of arms, reeded band, gold hinged cuvette, front cover with aperture in the center and champlevé blue Roman hour chapter and inner minute ring. D. White enamel, radial Roman numerals, outer minute ring, subsidiary sunk seconds at 10 o'clock. Blued steel "spade" hands. M. 41 mm. (18'''), gilt brass, 24 jewels, straight line calibrated lever escapement, cut bimetallic compensation balance, flat balancespring, the pallet fork with a U-shaped free end unusual for Patek Philippe, Adrien Philippe's third keyless winding system, repeating on gongs, through activating slide on the band.Signed and numbered by Breguet on the cuvette, movement stamped "PATEK ET COMP", "3524" under the dial, case stamped with Patek Philippe serial number inside the back cover and cuvette.Diam. 46 mm.


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Grading System
Case: 3 - 15
Movement: 3*

Good

Overhaul recommended, at buyer's expense
Dial: 4 - 13 - 17 - 01

Notes

The watch comes from the series of watches destined for the first Universal Exhibition, held in London in 1851. Patek Philippe's No. 3503 (only 21 numbers prior to the present watch) was at the time the smallest watch in the world, and won Patek a medal at the exhibition. Patek exhibited a number of watches at the exhibition, including some very similar to the present one. Breguet, who must have attended the exhibition, possibly remarked Patek's new product then.Both Patek Philippe and Breguet had been deeply involved in developing a keyless winding system. Breguet was first to design and to employ a keyless winding and setting system, as pointed out by Emmanuel Breguet in his book, "Breguet, Horloger depuis 1775", Paris, 1997. However, it was Patek Philippe's system which prevailed, and was even used later by Breguet, as this watch testifies.