Important Collectors’ Wristwatches, P...

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

LOT 28

Earl's Coronet and Duke's Coronet, "Le Comte de Pembroke" Breguet, No. 2789, sold to the Count of Pembroke on October 19, 1832 for 5,000 francs. Accompanied by the Breguet Certificate. Very fine and very rare 18K gold very small and very slim montre simple, double-cased, fermée type, pocket watch with calendar, built on the principles of the garde-temps.

CHF 40,000 - 60,000

EUR 25,000 - 38,000 / USD 33,000 - 50,000

Sold: CHF 82,600

C. Two-body outer detachable case, No. 4117, engine turned, setting button in the band, hinged and sprung front cover engraved with a small monogram beneath an Earl's coronet, the back engraved with a small letter "W" beneath a Duke's coronet. Three-body inner case by Tavernier, No.4117, "forme collier", engine-turned, the regulation, hand setting, calendar setting and stop buttons in the band. D. Silver, engine-turned, eccentric polished chapter with radial Roman numerals and outer dot minute markers, date aperture above 12, regulation lever and index at 1 balanced with the signature cartouche at 11. Gold Breguet hands. M. 29 mm., frosted gilt, spring barrel with female arbor, jeweled train, detached straight-line lever escapement, cut bimetallic compensation balance, blued steel arm, flat blued steel balance spring, parachute suspension. Dial signed, both cases numbered, the inner case with Tavernier's later type workshop mark. Diam. 33 mm. Thickness 5 mm.


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Grading System
Grade:
Case: 3-7-9

Good

Oxidized

Scratched
Movement: 3*

Good

Overhaul recommended, at buyer's expense
Dial: 3-9-01

Good

Scratched

HANDS Original

Notes

This watch was purchased from Breguet by Robert Herbert, 12th Earl of Pembroke and Montgomery (1791-1862) in 1832. The Earls of Pembroke are one of England's greatest families whose family home, Wilton House, near Salisbury, is one of the great treasure houses of England. Since 1551, Wilton House has remained in the Herbert family and, though today open to the public, is still the private home of the 18th Earl of Pembroke. Garde-Temps This term was used by Breguet specifically to indicate high-precision watches. A true guarantee of quality, the term could be applied to pieces for scientific use as well as for "civilian" pieces such as this watch made to the same principles as the garde temps.