Important collector's watches, wristw...

Hotel Richemond, Geneva, Apr 13, 2002

LOT 54

Breguet et Fils, No. 3537, sold to Countess Alexandrine Laval on July 17, 1821, for 1,180 Francs. Rare and fine platinum and gold pocket watch.

CHF 20,000 - 25,000

EUR 14,000 - 17,000 / USD 12,000 - 15,000

C. Four-body, forme ?collier?, polished, reeded band, bezels with yellow gold edges, white gold hinged cuvette. D. Silver, champlevé radial Roman numerals, outer minute dot divisions, engine-turned whitened center, subsidiary sunk seconds at 5 o?clock. M. 46 mm (20???), gilt metal, bar caliber with hanging barrel, Breguet ruby cylinder escapement, plain three-arm brass balance, flat balance spring, pare-chute elastic suspension on the top pivot. Signed on dial and case. Diam. 52 mm.


LOADING IMAGES
Click to full view
Image
Grading System
Grade: AA

Very good
Case: 3-27

Good

Custom-made
Movement: 3*

Good

Overhaul recommended, at buyer's expense
Dial: 3-21-01

Good

Period

HANDS Original

Notes

The Breguet records list 18 platinum cases. Only three are known to have survived. The case of the present watch, in platinum and gold, is a later replacement by Breguet for the original platinum case. Countess Laval, a client with esoteric tastes, bought the first watch mentioned in the Breguet archives as being wound not by a key but by a ?poussoir?, and that was back in the 1790?s. She had an extensive art collection, part of which ended up in the Hermitage, particularly her Egyptian statuettes. Provenance: Bloomfield Collection, San Diego.