Collector's Pocket Watches, Wristwatc...

Grand Havana Room, New York, Sep 20, 2001

LOT 146

Breguet, No. 569, sold to Count Campo Alegro on October 2, 1847 for 3,500 francs.Fine and important, 18K gold and enamel, early keyless quarter-repeating pocket watch.

USD 16,000 - 22,000

C. three-piece, "Empire", back cover with very fine translucent dark blue enamel over elaborate engine-turning with applied coat of arms presumably of the Alegro family, band engraved with a wreath of laurel leaves, reeded bezel, slide protruding through the band at 9 o'clock for regulating. D. white enamel, Roman numerals, outer minute divisions, snap-on fit. Gold "Breguet" hands. M. 39.8 mm ø (17 1/2'''), early gilt bridge caliber, 21 jewels, straight line counterpoised lever escapement, cut bmetallic compensation balance, blued steel Breguet balance-spring, gold guard pin, 2-arm, platinum screws, very early winding/setting system, repeating on gongs through activating a slide in the band.Dial signed, case stamped in typical Breguet manner with serial number over a letter "B", French 18K gold guarantee stamp, casemaker's stamp in lozenge and a case number 75 over a letter "P".Diam. 44 mm.


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Grading System
Grade: AAA

Excellent
Case: 3 - 51
Movement: 3*

Good

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

Notes

The watch implements the early stem-wound and stem-set keyless system apparently invented by Breguet. Breguet had experimented with keyless winding and setting mechanisms as early as 1831-1832 (see Antiquorum, New York, April 26, 2001, lot 154). However, his early designs featured two separate arbors, one for winding, the other for setting. The arbors were sometimes concentric, but were always two in number. This design, alluringly simple, as are many Breguet inventions, consists of a double pinon set on a winding stem constructed in such a way that when one portion is disengaged by pulling the crown, the other becomes engaged. Three years after this watch was sold, Breguet abandoned this system in favor of other systems, among them one invented by Philippe, No. 628 (see Antiquorum, October 19, 1997, lot 50).