Important Collectors' Wristwatches, P...

Geneva, Hotel Noga Hilton, Oct 16, 2005

LOT 176

Breguet a Paris, No. 630, circa 1810. Rare and unusual, 18K gold, quarter repeating self-winding watch with center seconds.

CHF 35,000 - 40,000

EUR 23,000 - 26,000 / USD 28,000 - 32,000

Sold: CHF 39,100

C. Two-body, ?forme collier? by Guillaume Mermillod (Master Mark), engine-turned, the back centered with the blue champlevé enamelled monogram ?AF?. D. Silver, engine turned with radial Roman numerals. Blued steel Breguet hands. M. Gilt brass, three-quarter plate with going barrel, straight line lever escapement with draw and visible jewelled pallets, plain gold three-arm balance, flat balance-spring. Gold crescent-shaped ?pedometer? self-winding weight pierced and engraved with foliate decoration with a limiting device stopping the weight when the watch is fully wound to prevent over winding, two-spring loaded shock absorbing winding weight, repeating on gongs by depressing the pendant. Dial and movement signed. Diam. 56 mm.


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Grading System
Grade:
Case: 3-14

Good

Damaged
Movement: 3-6*

Good

Slightly oxidized

Overhaul recommended, at buyer's expense
Dial: 3-6-01

Good

Slightly oxidized

HANDS Original

Notes

This watch was clearly completed, cased and fitted with a dial circa 1810. The movement of much smaller diameter is to be compared to those produced in the 1780s by Jaquet Droz in Switzerland for the Chinese market. In order to meet the fashion for much larger watches, it has been fitted in a large gilt metal ring onto which the repeating gongs are screwed. The straight line lever escapement is of the type used by Breguet on his watches circa 1810. According to the monogram engraved on the winding weight and the back of the case, and the signature on the movement and dial, this watch could have been completed in Breguet?s workshop to meet a special request. The case was made by Guillaume Mermillod, who was working for Breguet at the time, and the movement could have been found unfinished after the French revolution.