Mgr. Belmas, Bishop of Cambrai, 1835.

Hand written copy, by Mgr. Belmas of a letter received from Breguet in 1811, concerning the instruction for use of his very elaborated Decimal watch. This copy was given by Mgr. Belmas to Mr. Failly in 1835. Accompanied by a small fraction of the original hand written letter by Breguet and photocopy of a manuscript note by Mgr. Belmas, explaining to his friend on 6 March 1835, the importance of this decimal watch.

Abraham-Louis Breguet, dated 12 December 1814.

Highly important hand written letter, sent to Mgr. Belmas, accompanied by the description and instructions for use of the Garde Temps No. 2741. This most important watch, completed in 1813, and sold to Mgr.Belmas in 1822 completed in 1813, and sold to Mgr.Belmas in 1822 is now in the collection of The British Museum, in London. It is Illustrated by Emmanuel Breguet is his book: Breguet Horloger depuis 1775 - Vie et posterite de Abraham Louis Breguel. Alain de Gourcuff Editeur, Paris 1997, pp.276. The cuvette is engraved: Premiere piece oft la communication du rouage au regulateur s'opere sans frottement. Executee en 1813 par Breguet pour Mgr: Belmas, ami de l'auleut:

Abraham-Louis Breguet, dated 7 April and 28 August 1815.

Two interesting hand written letters, sent to Mgr. Belmas. These two letters illustrate the quality of the relationship between Breguet and Mgr. Belmas.

Antoine-Louis Breguet, dated 22 October 1818.

Important hand written letter concerning two watches, a decimal one and one belonging to Mr. Sommariva, sent the same day by Breguet to Mgr. Belmas.

Breguet a Paris, Perpetuelle No.1 - 8/82, Invente, perfectionne et execute par Breguet, completed in August 1782. Highly important 18K gold dumb quarter repeating self-winding watch, with 60 hour power reserve indication, certainly one of the very first ever made by Breguet.

C. Double body, Louis XVI, polished. D. White enamel dial with Breguet numerals, outer minute ring and up-and-down sector. Gold Breguet hands. M. Hinged inverted gilt brass full plate with cylindrical pillars, two going barrels alternatively wound by means of a self-winding oscillating ogival platinum weight, pivoted on the edge of the back plate, the oscillation limited by two banking pins and locked automatically by a rising arm when spring are fully wound. Five wheel train with an intermediate wheel to enable a 60 hour going period. Cylinder escapement, plain brass three-arm balance set on the front plate, beneath the dial, blued steel flat balance spring with regulator counter sunk in the back plate. Repeating on the edge of the case by depressing the pendant. Signed on the dial, back plate and with inscription on the gilt dial plate. With Breguet certificate. Diam. 44 mm.

Breguet a Paris No. 342, made between 1785 and 1787. Very fine and rare early dumb ten minute repeating watch with date and early lever escapement.

C. Double body by Guillaume Mermillod, of the type used by Breguet for the very first series of perpetuelles, polished. D. White enamel with Breguet numerals and outer "star" minute divisions, subsidiary seconds and symmetrical small date ring. Blued steel Breguet hands. M. Gilt brass full plate, upside down with cylindrical pillars and going barrel, early form of straight line lever escapement without draw, plain brass three-arm balance, blued steel balance spring with an early form of the bimetallic compensation curb on the regulator index. Repeating on the edge of the case by depressing the pendant. Signed on the dial and the gilt brass dial plate. Accompanied by a letter of authenticity. Diam. 56 mm.

Breguet (No. 125/3243), Pendule branlante, with quantiemes a rebours, entered in the registers on 7 November 1791, sold to Mr. Veaujour in February 1792 against a watch of 240 Francs. Fine and extremely rare, one month going, second beating double face mystery swinging calendar clock with centre seconds.

C. Mounted on a mahogany panel, at the bottom third of which is a mirror. It is suspended from a brass potence screwed into this panel. The clock is fitted in its own pendulum bob. D. Front white enamel with Arabic numerals and outer seconds and minute ring. Blued steel "arrow hands". White enamel on the back, by Dubuisson No. 3774 (signed on the the enamel backing) with calendar ring painted in mirror image on the rear face. M. Brass circular with four going barrels, pin wheel escapement controlled by a pivoted weight. Each swing of the clock causes the weight to fall from side to side and to release a tooth of the escape wheel at each movement.At the same time, the movement of the weight, by putting the clock out of poise, speeds the return swing to compensate for the natural dissipation and so maintain the action. The small internal pendulum therefore sets up the sympathetic vibration which the main pendulum absorbs. Once the main pendulum has reached its arc of full amplitude, it begins to exert its regulating influence over the small internal pendulum. These two independent vibrations are gradually brought into step and in the end, the larger pendulum, although relying on the smaller one for its power, dominates the smaller one as long as this power is supplied. The compensation bimetallic rod is formed of three sections of alternately reversed laminated steel and brass. They are permanently set to a slight curve to allow the contraction of the brass to straighten the rod and so maintain its length constant in cold temperature. When the temperature increases, the expansion of the brass increases the curvature to achieve the same end. A scale to indicate change in temperature by change in length of rod is attached to the lower section. The clock has to be stopped each month to wind the four barrels and set the time. Signed on the dial. Accompanied by Breguet certificate No. 2760. Dim. 48 x 140 cm.

Breguet, Pendule a trois roues, (No. 173), made in 1792, sold to Breguet on 20 March 1793, for 1820 Francs. Presented by Breguet to Laplace who later gave it to Magendie. In 1855, at the death of Magendie, this clock came into the family De Puisaye. Extremely important eight day going weight driven skeleton three-wheel clock with equation of time, Republican and Gregorian calendars and thermometer.

C. Gilt brass frame, the front bar engraved with the days of the week. D. Revolving silvered brass ring for the 24 hours, with Arabic hours, 10 minute numerals and 2 minute divisions, attached by friction springs to the barrel arbor and making one revolution in 24 hours, mean time indicated by a blued steel pointer, solar time by the gilt sun hand. An applied silvered sector on the front pillar marking the minutes up to 10, with a three-pointed star hand, the silver seconds ring attached to the escape wheel, with blued steel pointer attached to the plate. Gregorian and Republican year calendars engraved on the revolving silvered ring at the base, the equation cam affixed to the back and driven from the hour wheel by a single pin advancing 1 tooth every 24 hours, able to be disengaged to correct for the leap- year. A plumb bob fitted for levelling, the cord doubling as the date indicator. Upper surface of the weights marking the day of the week as they descend. M. Double weights with single barrel, pin-wheel escapement with halfseconds beating gridiron pendulum, jewelled knifeedge and needle-point suspension, the vase-shaped counter-weight mounted on the bimetallic compensation bar, with a sector-shaped scale at the front to indicate the effects of temperature change. Accompanied by Breguet certificate No. 2681, delivered on 23 December 1925, attesting the clock was presented by Breguet to the physician Laplace who gave it to Magendie and later belong to the de Puisaye family. Height: 52 cm.

Breguet No. 24, sold to Mr. Hottinguer on Prairial An 6, for 1200 Francs. Very fine and rare 18K gold dumb quarter repeating Garde Temps, with jumping hour hand, echappement isole, accompanied by the original ratchet key.

C. Three body, polished, made by Joly, punched with Paris hallmarks for 1789. Gilt brass detachable cuvette. D. White enamel by Cave, Pl. Thionville, (signed on the enamel backing), with Breguet numerals and star minute divisions. Blued steel Breguet hands. M. Gilt brass, Lepine calibre with free standing barrel, Breguet over hanging ruby cylinder escapement, plain brass three-arm balance, blued steel flat balance spring with bimetallic compensation curb on the regulator index. Repeating on the edge of the case by depressing the pendant with a polished single hammer. Signed on the dial and cuvette. Accompanied by Breguet certificate. Diam. 57 mm.

Breguet No. 29, sold to M. Malotaky, second interprete de l'Amba ssadeur Turc, on Prairial An 6 (May June 1798), for 1200 Francs. Very fine and rare silver dumb quarter repeating, Garde Temps, with jumping hours, echappement isole.

C. Three body "Louis XVI", polished with gold hinges, made by Amy Gros, is punched with Paris hallmarks for 1789. Gilt brass cuvette. D. White enamel by Cave (signed on the enamel backing), with Breguet numerals and star minute divisions. Blued steel Breguet hands. M. Gilt brass, Lepine calibre with free standing barrel, Breguet over hanging ruby cylinder escapement, plain brass three-arm balance, blued steel flat balance spring with bimetallic compensation curb on the index. Repeating on the case by depressing the pendant with a polished single hammer. Signed on the dial, cuvette and dial-plate. Accompanied by Breguet certificate No. 3554. Dram. 60 mm.

Breguet No. 248, sold to Monsieur l'Ambassadeur Turc, on An 6 (1797-1798) for 1200 Francs. Fine silver pair-cased pull quarter repeating coach watch with alarm.

C. Double body outer, tortoiseshell covered wit pinwork decoration. Double body inner by Tavernier No. 1313, polished, the back pierced with roundels on the border. D. White enamel by Coteau, with Turkish numerals. Blued steel Breguet hands and concentric alarm pointer. Gilt brass dial plate engraved: Breguet a Paris No. 248. M. Hinged gilt brass full plate with tapered pillars, fusee with chain, verge escapement, plain brass three-arm balance, gilt brass continental cock pierced and engraved with scroll work, polished steel end-piece. Pull wind quarter repeating on a large bell. Alarm train with fixed barrel. Accompanied by Breguet certificate No. 3634. Diam. 110 mm.

Breguet No. 661, Pendule pyramidale, Commissioned to Le Roy (Constantinople) on 30 June 1817, for 1400 Francs. Fine and rare eight day going hour and half-hour striking bronze clock.

C. Rectangular green marble base, the movement fitted in the rectangular lower part of oxidised bronze with gilt bronze moulding and applied gilt bronze lyres on each side of the engine-turned bezel. Gilt bronze rosettes and laurel wreath applied on the side panels.The oxidised triangular frame above is applied with ormolu decoration. D. White enamel with Turkish numerals by Dubuisson (signed on the enamel backing). Blued steel Breguet hands. M. Brass circular with going barrels both for the going and the striking trains, pin-wheel escapement, half seconds beating pendulum with knife edge suspension. Striking on a bell with count wheel on the back plate. Signed on the dial. Dim.52 x 33 x 20 cm.

Breguet, No. 694, sold to Mr. Niteau on 13 Prairial An 9 (2 June 1801), for 2767 Francs. Extremely fine and rare 18K gold and enamel, hunting cased diamond set medallion. a tact watch.

C. Two body, "forme collier" by Tavernier No. 1564, alternated small seed-pearls and large old-cut diamonds touch pieces on the band, the cover and back decorated in blue flinlue enamel, the a tact arrow and the applied pansy on the cover, set with rose-cut diamonds (enamel very slightly restored on the border near by the tip of the arrow). Gold detachable cuvette. D. Small eccentric frosted silver with Breguet numerals, fixed to the barrel's bridge. Blued steel Breguet hands. M. Gilt brass 14"', souscription calibre with central barrel, overhanging ruby cylinder escapement, plain brass three-arm balance, blued steel flat balance spring. Signed on the cuvette and movement. Accompanied by Breguet certificate No. 4022. Diam. 57 mm.

Breguet No. 728, sold to Mr. Falzety on 18 Ventose An 9 (9 March 1801), for 1200 Francs. Fine and very rare silver and gold mantra a tact with auxilary five-minute dial, concentric Revolutionary and Gregorian calendar rings with equation of time calculated to coincide with the Revolutionary calendar.

C. Two body, "forme collier", silver engine-turned, with gold rims, pendant and bow. The cover with a monogram "K. A." engraved on a small gold escutcheon applied below the small glazed eccentric dial aperture, gold border rim with touch pieces. Applied gold a tact arrow on the back, extended by a sector-shaped glazed aperture revealing the months, the equation of time and the additional dial subdivided for five minutes. Gilt brass cuvette with circular eccentric aperture revealing the dial. D. Silver engine-turned with Roman numerals on a polished chapter ring, secured by a screw on the barrel bridge. Blued steel Breguet hands. M. 25 - , gilt brass, souscription calibre with centre barrel, overhanging ruby cylinder escapement, plain brass three-arm balance with bimetallic compensation curb on the regulator. Blued steel flat balance spring. Signed on the gilt brass cuvette and the movement. Diam. 62 mm.

Breguet No. 730, Montre de souscription, sold to Mr. Labensky on 21 Messidor An 9 (10 July 1801), for 1320 Francs. Fine and unusual 18K gold souscription watch with concealed a tacthand, engraved comparative table for the months of the Gregorian and Republican calendars, and the equation of time correction for the Revolutionary calendar.

C. Three body, "forme collier " , engine-turned " a grains d'orge" , the reeded band with gold touch pieces, gold a tact pointer on the edge of the cover. Gilt brass detachable cuvette engraved with the Revolutionary and Gregorian calendars and equation tables. D. White enamel with Breguet numerals and souscription type divisions allowing to read the time with a precision of two minutes with a single hand. Gold a tact hand. M. 25 "' gilt brass, souscription calibre with central barrel, overhanging ruby cylinder escapement, plain brass three-arm balance, blued steel flat balance spring with compensation curb on the regulator index. Signed on the dial and cuvette, secret signature on the dial below chapter 12. Diam. 64 mm. Accompanied by Breguet certificate No. 2686.

Breguet No. 869, sold to Mr. le General Markoff on 24 Brumaire An 12 (16 November 1803), for 1800 Francs, the account paid on 26 NivSse An 12 (17 January 1804). Fine 18K gold dumb quarter repeating watch with special escapement.

C. Three body by Tavernier No. 869, of the type used for the perpetuelles and the first Garde-Temps, with fluted band, the back engine-turned "a grains d'orge", the centre engraved with the monogram "C J.M. " . Gilt brass detachable cuvette. D. White enamel with Breguet numerals and subsidiary seconds. Blued steel Breguet hands. M. 22 "' gilt brass full plate with cylindrical pillars, fusee with chain, double wheel duplex escapement with steel escape wheels, plain brass three-arm balance with pare-chute suspension on the top pivot, blued steel flat balance spring with bimetallic compensation curb on the index. Repeating with two hammers on the edge of the case by depressing the pendant. Signed on the movement and cuvette. Accompanied by Breguet certificate No. 2738. Diam. 55 mm.

Breguet No. 960, sent to Mr. Betancourt on 10 Vendemiaire An 11 (2 October 1802), for 1600 Francs. Fine and large 18K gold Souscription a tact.

C. Two body, "forme collier" by Tavernier No. 1890, the reeded band with gold touch pieces, cover and back engine-turned in a sun-burst pattern, glazed small eccentric dial aperture in the dial cover, applied white gold a tact arrow on the back back. Gold detachable cuvette with eccentric dial aperture. D. Small eccentric silver engine-turned with Breguet numerals on a polished chapter ring, secured by a screw on the barrel bridge. Blued steel Breguet hands. M. 25 "' , gilt brass, souscription calibre with centre barrel, overhanging ruby cylinder escapement, plain brass three-arm balance with pare-chute suspension, flat blued steel balance spring with bimetallic compensation curb on the regulator. Signed on the cuvette and movement, secret signature on the dial. Accompagnied by Breguet certificate. Diam. 62 mm.

Breguet No. 1034, Souscription, bate d 'or, sold to Mr. Martin Pueche Fils & Cie on 29 Pluviose An 11 (18 February 1803), for 840 Francs, in a red leather Breguet fitted box. Fine 18K gold souscription watch.

C. Three body, "forme collier", by Joly No. 655, engine-turned, the back wit a monogram engraved en reserve. D. White enamel, souscription type with Breguet numerals and outer minute ring with special divisions allowing to read time with a precision of two minutes with a single hand. Secret signature below chapter "12" . Blued steel Breguet souscription hand with tapered tip. M. 20 "' , gilt brass, souscription calibre with centre barrel, overhanging ruby cylinder escapement, plain brass three-arm balance with parchute suspension, flat blued steel balance spring with bimetallic compensation curb on the regulator index. Signed on the dial and movement. Accompanied by Breguet certificate No. 2938. Diam. 49 mm.

Breguet No. 1160, sold to Mr. le Marquis de Santiago on 6 Prairial An 12 (26 May 1804), for 1680 Francs. Very fine 18K gold and enamel, hunting cased diamond set medaillon a tact watch, with original short chain and ratchet key, accompanied by a red leather fitted box by Desoutter.

C. Two body, "forme collier" by Tavernier No. 1980, with godrooned band, the cover and back decorated in blue flinque enamel, the a tact arrow and touch pieces, loose-ring pendant and the applied pansy on the cover, set with rose-cut diamonds. Gold detachable cuvette. D. Small eccentric frosted silver with Breguet numerals, fixed to the barrel's bridge. Blued steel Breguet hands. M. Gilt brass 14 -, souscription calibre with central barrel, overhanging ruby cylinder escapement, plain brass three-arm balance, blued steel flat balance spring. Signed on the cuvette and movement. Accompanied by Breguet certificate No. 3974. Diam. 40 mm.

Breguet No. 1238, sold to Mr. Castaneda on 6 Prairial An 12 (26 May 1804), for 1500 Francs. Fine 18K gold and enamel pearl-set medallion a tact.

C. Double body, "forme collier", made by Tavernier, No. 1959, the cover of flinque grey enamel, seed pearl touch pieces on the reeded band, the pearl-set arrow hand applied on the revolving polished back. Gold cuvette engraved: "Breguet No. 1238 " , with eccentric dial aperture. D. Silver small eccentric with Breguet numerals, fixed on the barrel ' s bridge. Blued steel Breguet hands. M. 16 "' , frosted and gilt, souscription calibre with central barrel, overhanging ruby cylinder escapement, plain brass three-arm balance, blued steel flat balance spring. Diam. 43 mm.