87
Breguet
Ref. No. 731
An early, important, and oversized gold pocket watch with subsidiary seconds and ruby cylinder escapement
- Estimate
- $30,000 - 60,000
Lot Details
- Manufacturer
- Breguet
- Year
- Circa 1801
- Reference No
- No. 731
- Case No
- No. 4044/731
- Material
- 18K yellow gold
- Calibre
- Manual, ruby cylinder escapement nouveau (“new”) caliber with three lateral bridges
- Dimensions
- 59.5mm Diameter
- Signed
- Case and dial signed Breguet.
- Accessories
- Accompanied by Breguet-style short chain and two winding keys.
Specialist
Full-Cataloguing
Catalogue Essay
A pioneer of the field active between the end of the 18th and the beginning of the 19th century in Paris, Breguet invented or perfected many of the technologies employed today in watchmaking.
The cylinder escapement was not invented by Breguet, but he did much to improve on the English cylinder escapement that was unreliable due to its size and shape. Breguet improved the design by changing its shape to avoid shocks and improve access to lubrication. Daniels states that “[a]s developed by Breguet the ruby cylinder cannot sensibly be improved upon.”
No. 731 was first sold on 9 May 1801 to a Monsieur Sara for 912 francs. It was then bought back on 8 September 1801 and resold to a Monsieur Slade to be delivered to a Monsieur Botton on 21 October 1801. The case number 4404 was made by Amy Gros, as seen by the case maker’s hallmark on the interior of the case.
Number 731 is exceptionally well-preserved given it is over two centuries old, an important and well documented timepiece likely created by the hand of the greatest watchmaker who ever lived.
The cylinder escapement was not invented by Breguet, but he did much to improve on the English cylinder escapement that was unreliable due to its size and shape. Breguet improved the design by changing its shape to avoid shocks and improve access to lubrication. Daniels states that “[a]s developed by Breguet the ruby cylinder cannot sensibly be improved upon.”
No. 731 was first sold on 9 May 1801 to a Monsieur Sara for 912 francs. It was then bought back on 8 September 1801 and resold to a Monsieur Slade to be delivered to a Monsieur Botton on 21 October 1801. The case number 4404 was made by Amy Gros, as seen by the case maker’s hallmark on the interior of the case.
Number 731 is exceptionally well-preserved given it is over two centuries old, an important and well documented timepiece likely created by the hand of the greatest watchmaker who ever lived.
Literature
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.
Browse MakerEighteenth 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.