Important Wristwatches, Watches & Clocks

Geneva, Hotel Des Bergues, Oct 17, 1992

LOT 328

Breguet, Horloger de S. M. I. & R. (His Majesty Emperor and King), No. 956, circa 1810. Extraordinary, 18 ct. gold and enamel half-quarter repeating watch with special striking train and escapement.

CHF 40,000 - 50,000

Sold: CHF 48,300

C. Three body massive, Empire, by Tavernier (master mark) No. 2223 with reeded band, the back with blue champleve enamel figures, symbols of the day and the night, facing a sand-dial, outer decoration of palmleaves, stars and moon croissants (slightly restored). GiIt brass hinged cuvette. D. Gold engine-turned with Roman numerals on a plain reserve and subsidiary eccentric seconds. Blued steel Breguet hands with skeletonized tip. M. GiIt brass, Lepine caliber with skeletonized and partly engraved bridges, free standing barrel, 23 jewels Robin deten-lever escapement with a rolled engaging the fork of the lever, plain brass three armed balance, flat balance spring with Breguet type bimetallic compensation curb. Dumb repeating the hours, the half- quarters striking on a gong, with push pendant. Signed "Breguet" on the dial and cuvette, signed "Lallemand" on the movement. In very good condition. Diam. 57 mm.

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Notes

A very similar watch by Rieussec, was sold by this house on 20 October 1991 in Geneva, No. 311. It is well recorded that Breguet, from time to time, bought completed movements from certain top grade watchmakers, notably those who had trained in his workshop, as is the case with Lallemand. Certain of these watches are recorded in a special volume of the archives, book extremely difficult to use, as they are listed in chronological order and not by their number. Only one volume survives for these watches, known as montres de hazard, covering but a few years.