Important Watches, Wristwatches and C...

Geneva, Hotel Des Bergues, Oct 18, 1997

LOT 10

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.

CHF 15,000 - 18,000

Sold: CHF 28,750

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.


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Grading System
Grade: B

Fair
Case: 1

As new
Movement: 1

As new
Dial: 24-51

Slightly chipped

Partially reprinted

Notes

History: Sold to M. Malolaky, second interprete de I 'Amba.ssadeur Turc, in Prairial An 6 (May-June 1798), for 1200 Francs, this watch was withdrawn from a pawn shop by Breguet for 200 Francs on 14 Germinal an 7 (14 April 1799) and resold to a friend of Mr. Pilot on 4 Florcal an 7(23 April 7799). Note: From the first series of repeaters jumping hour hand and fitted with the famous over hanging ruby cylinder escapement, used by Berguet for almost all his watches made for everyday use, this watch was made soon after Breguet returned from Switzerland in 1795. The case with bezel and hack hinged on the central bocly, is identical to that used by Breguet for his early production. It was supplied by Amy Gros and is not numbered. The white enamel dial by Cave, place de Thionville, with star minute divisions, is also typical of the early dials with Breguet numerals. The movement with Lepine calibre, the blank supplied by Pictet, is of the type used by Breguet for his early production with virgule escapement; an aperture on the single plate enable to see the newly invented over hanging ruby cylinder escapement. All the watches from this series are recorded in the Breguet ' s books as Repot tioa Garde Tempt, echappenaent [sole. Nos. 20 and 21, the first two and No. 39, the las one, are recorded as " perclue ou cgarce " on 23 October 1810. All the others were sold between Brumaire An 6 (October 1797) and Prai rial an 8 (June 1800), and already the name of Breguet' s best clients are among the buyers of these early watches: General Hcdouville, Baron Hottinguer, General Bonaparte and several ambassadors. These watches were sold for 1200 Francs in silver case and 1440 Francs in gold. Literature: A very similar watch is illustrated in The Art of Breguet, by George Daniels (p. 114, fig. 97 a-c).