Important Collectors’ Wristwatches, P...

Geneva, Mandarin Oriental Hotel Du Rhône, Oct 15, 2006

LOT 12

"To Mr. Talma for Recordon" Breguet, No. 84, sold circa 1792. Very fine and important, 18K gold pocket watch with independent dead seconds, quarter repeating à toc and ruby cylinder escapement.

CHF 35,000 - 45,000

EUR 22,000 - 28,000 / USD 28,000 - 37,000

Sold: CHF 187,000

C. Three-body, early Breguet type by Guillaume Mermillod (master mark), polished, shuttered winding hole, concealed hinge. Gilt brass dust cap. D. White enamel by F. Cave, Pl. Thionu (5), with Breguet numerals, outer star minute indexes and lozenge quarter-hour indexes, eccentric subsidiary seconds at 2 o'clock, secret signature below 12. Blued steel "Breguet" hands. M. 49 mm. (22???), gilt, three-quarter plate, cut away for the standing barrel, overhanging ruby cylinder escapement with parachute suspension, plain threearm balance, flat blued steel balance spring with bimetallic temperature compensation curb and index regulator, dead seconds and subsidiary seconds wheels mounted above the back plate and driven by a pirouette fitted to the top of the escape wheel pinion, repeating on a block in the case activated by depressing the pendant, center seconds stop/start lever in the dust cover, regulation and repeat adjustment levers in the dial plate. Dial, cuvette and movement signed. Diam. 57 mm.


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Grading System
Grade:
Case: 3

Good
Movement: 3*

Good

Overhaul recommended, at buyer's expense
Dial: 3-44-46-01

Good

HANDS Original

Notes

Breguet watches with independent seconds are very rare, particularly at this early date. This watch can be used as a true chronograph because the additional subsidiary seconds provides constant running seconds and is unaffected by the operation of the center seconds. The case is the earliest known form of Breguet watchcase, a type that was also used for the early perpétuelles. The present watch was bought back by Breguet and is recorded in the registers as being given to Mr Talma for Recordon (Breguet's London agent) on 14 Frimaire, An 9 (December 5, 1801).