Breguet - The Hong Kong Watch Auction: XI Hong Kong Saturday, November 28, 2020 | Phillips

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  • Manufacturer: Breguet
    Year: Circa 1991
    Reference No: Ref. 3430 (wristwatch) and ref. 1890 (pocket watch)
    Case No: 19
    Model Name: Souscription Set, No. 19/300
    Material: 18K yellow gold
    Calibre: Mechanical, Cal. 567, 30 jewels (wristwatch); automatic, Cal. 90 22” (pocket watch)
    Bracelet/Strap: Leather
    Clasp/Buckle: 18K yellow gold pin buckle (wristwatch)
    Dimensions: 37mm and 62mm diameter
    Signed: Case, dial and movement signed
    Accessories: Accompanied by Breguet fitted presentation box, 18K yellow gold magnifying glass and screwdriver.

  • Catalogue Essay

    The Breguet Souscription sets were launched in 1991 in a limited series of 300 examples as a celebration of the brand’s founding father, Abraham Louis Breguet, and his unique idea to have buyers make a down payment of 25% for a watch and the remaining balance due once the watch was delivered to the customer. This allowed Breguet to remain financially stable and allow him to develop other projects.

    The present lot is the Souscription Set No. 19 and is made up of two watches in 18K yellow gold; a minute repeating perpetual calendar wristwatch and a large but beautiful pocket watch.

    The wristwatch is created in a very classic style with all the information of the perpetual calendar harmoniously displayed on the guilloché dial. Adding to the calendar complication is a minute repeater which makes the watch all the more attractive as all the functions are housed in a comfortable 37mm case.

    The pocket watch could be considered the highlight of the Souscription Set as it is based on some historically important Breguet perpetuelle pocket watches from the late 18th century which featured a hammer-winding mechanism. As the owner would go about his day, the movement of the body would make the hammer go up and down, thus winding the watch. The beautiful decoration and complexity of the movement can easily be appreciated through the large display caseback of the pocket watch. The hammer-shaped bumper rotor, first made by Breguet in 1791, is the star of the movement and is crafted from platinum, but the level of finishing is also something that a seasoned collector will spend hours appreciating.

  • 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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918

Ref. Ref. 3430 (wristwatch) and ref. 1890 (pocket watch)
A fine and attractive souscription set of yellow gold watches including a minute repeating wristwatch and a self-winding pocket watch with fitted presentation box, numbered 19 of a limited edition of 300

Circa 1991
37mm and 62mm diameter
Case, dial and movement signed

Estimate
HK$270,000 - 470,000 
€29,100-50,700
$34,600-60,300

Sold for HK$1,827,000

Contact Specialist

Thomas Perazzi

Head of Watches, Asia
+852 2318 2001

WatchesHK@phillips.com

The Hong Kong Watch Auction: XI

Hong Kong Auction 29 November 2020