Breguet - The Geneva Watch Auction: SEVEN Geneva Saturday, May 12, 2018 | Phillips

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  • Manufacturer: Breguet
    Year: 1979
    Movement No: 1239
    Case No: 1239
    Model Name: 1289
    Material: 18K yellow gold
    Calibre: Manual, cal. 16", 37 jewels
    Dimensions: 52mm Diameter
    Signed: Case, dial and movement signed
    Accessories: Accompanied by Breguet Certificate confirming sale of the present watch on December 13, 1979 for 72,000 French Francs to the company Wolfers

  • Catalogue Essay

    A perfect embodiment of Breguet’s design acumen and technical mastery, the present chronograph minute repeating pocket watch is audaciously unconventional and idiosyncratic, considering it was made in 1979.

    It is interesting to note that in the late 1970s, amidst the quartz crisis affecting the watchmaking industry, there were still brands who had maintained the expertise to make complicated timepieces and collectors with the passion to buy them.

    This is why the present Breguet stands out amongst this era’s production. Not only is it a highly complicated mechanical masterpiece, but its ultimate audacity resides in the fact that it is a pocketwatch.

    The chimes of the repeater are crisp and loud, the chronograph has the rare feature of being “instantaneous”, meaning the hand of the minutes counter jumps instantaneously to the next increment as soon as the chronograph seconds hand passes 60 seconds, adding an element of complexity to the movement.

    The enticing design, complicated movement and overall excellent condition of this watch offer a rare opportunity to the collector looking for a highly complicated timepiece at a fraction of what it would cost had it been a wristwatch.

  • 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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229

A rare and attractive yellow gold minute repeating chronograph open faced pocketwatch

1979
52mm Diameter
Case, dial and movement signed

Estimate
CHF20,000 - 30,000 
€17,100-25,700
$21,200-31,800

Sold for CHF46,250

Contact Specialist
Alexandre Ghotbi
Head of Sale
+41 22 317 81 81
aghotbi@phillips.com

The Geneva Watch Auction: SEVEN

Geneva Auction 12-13 May 2018