Breguet - The Hong Kong Watch Auction: FIVE Hong Kong Monday, November 27, 2017 | Phillips

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  • Manufacturer: Breguet
    Year: 1791
    Case No: 1842
    Model Name: Perpetuel N°9
    Material: 18k gold
    Dimensions: 54mm. Diameter
    Signed: Dial and movement signed.
    Accessories: Accompanied by Breguet Extract from the Archives confirming order of the watch in 1787 and delivery to the baron de Blome on 24 October, 1791.

  • Catalogue Essay

    Sir David Salomons, one of the greatest collectors of Breguet pocket watches once wrote: “to carry a fine Breguet watch is to feel that you have the brains of a genius in your pocket.” One can only agree with the author of these words considering that horology, as we know it today, was almost singlehandedly crafted and shaped by the genius mind of Abraham Louis Breguet. The number of horological elements that he invented or bettered is mind-boggling: the tourbillon, the automatic movement, the shock absorption protection system, the minute repeater and the list can go on and on.

    The present Perpetuel N°9 is part of Breguet’s very first automatic winding watches. Although he cannot be credited for the invention of a watch that could be wound no longer with a key but thanks to the movements of the wearer he greatly perfected it. A large platinum weight and two barrels were used. The weight would move to and fro with the slightest movement resulting in a watch that would easily wind itself up to 60 hours even if used by someone with a rather inactive lifestyle.

    Breguet’s first perpetual saw the light of day in 1780 and was the first major success of his career. At a time when several of his contemporaries were engaged in work on the problem without achieving any convincing results, he became the first to discover, through his oscillating platinum-weight watch a formula which would produce a reliable automatic watch.

    Breguet’s perpetual models were favoured amongst the European aristocracy and notables. The present Perpetual n°9 was commissioned by the Baron de Blome, Denmark’s ambassador to France, in 1787 and delivered to him on 24 October, 1791.

    This historically important watch in a large guilloché case features sub seconds at 6 o’clock, power reserve indicator on the top left section of the dial as well as a 15 minutes “repetitions à toc” a “dumb” repeater watch in which a hammer strikes the inside of the case to produce a muffled sound.

    Fresh to the market, the present lot is not only historically important but is superb condition and the rare opportunity to own a timepiece made by the greatest watchmakers in history.

  • Artist Biography

    Breguet

    Swiss • 1775

    Established in 1775 by Abraham Louis Breguet, widely considered the greatest watchmaker of all time, the storied brand continues to thrive in the modern era, creating exceptional high-end watches as the Swatch Group's premier prestige brand. Some of the most important and lasting inventions in watchmaking are attributed to Abraham Louis Breguet, including the tourbillon, shock resistance and the use of hammers and gongs employed in nearly all minute repeating watches made since.

    Eighteenth and nineteenth century Breguet pocketwatches are especially sought-after by collectors, and many of them were made for the elite of European society, including Napoléon and Marie Antoinette. Key wristwatches from the twentieth century include oversized dress watches, two-register chronographs, triple calendars and Type XX aviator's chronographs made for the French military and civilians.

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966

An extremely rare and historically important self winding yellow quarter repeating "à toc" gold pocket watch with power reserve

1791
54mm. Diameter
Dial and movement signed.

Estimate
HK$960,000 - 1,440,000 
€104,000-157,000
$120,000-180,000

Sold for HK$2,800,000

Contact Specialist
Ziyong Ho
Specialist
+852 9386 2032
yong.ho@phillips.com

The Hong Kong Watch Auction: FIVE

Hong Kong Auction 28 November 2017