Important Watches, Wristwatches and C...

Geneva, Hotel Des Bergues, Oct 18, 1997

LOT 15

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.

CHF 80,000 - 100,000

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.


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Grading System
Grade: B

Fair
Case: 5

Poor
Movement: 1

As new
Dial: 21-51

Period

Partially reprinted

Notes

Provenance: The property of an important American family since the 1920 ' s. Formerly in the Dollfus collection. Literature: Illustrate and described by George Daniels in The Art of Breguet, p. 182, fig. 144 a-b. and by Emanuel Breguet in his book: Breguet Horloger dejaus 1775, Alain de Gourcuff Editeur, Paris, 1997, p. 213. Exhibition: This watch was exhibited in Paris at the Palais Galiera in October 1923 for the centenary of the death of Abraham Louis Breguet, No. 47 of the catalogue. Note: This watch differs from the previous lot only in the details or its case and dial, being constructed at the same period and bearing a very close serial number. The cuvette is engraved with the same calendar and equation indications as appear in the aperture on the back of the watch No. 728, with the exception of the small dial calibrated for 5 minutes and fractions thereof. Mr. Labensky was one of the Breguet agents in Russia.