Christie’s Geneva, 12 May – the Abraham-Louis Breguet sale
Auctions · · by Christian Bissener
The auction at Christie’s in Geneva on 12 May also offered some very interesting pocket watches by Abraham-Louis Breguet.
No. 3219 – marine chronometer
An eight-day marine chronometer with power reserve indication, in a mahogany box. The movement is chaîne et fusée, and the chronometer was first sold on 27 April 1819. Lot 289, estimate €42,000–67,000.
No. 3907 – montre à souscription
One of Breguet’s famous subscription watches, with cylinder movement and central barrel. It was originally sold with a platinum case; the present silver and gold case and the enamel dial are later additions and not by Breguet. Lot 290, estimate €8,400–12,000.
No. 4601 – très petite montre à répétition
Described by Breguet as “très petite montre à répétition très plate sur les principes des chronomètres”, a very special and extremely rare half-quarter repeater with date, built very small. First sold on 22 October 1829. Lot 291, estimate €42,000–67,000.
No. 4039 – répétition plate
A “répétition plate sur les principes des chronomètres”: an extremely rare half-quarter repeating watch with date, first sold on 30 September 1825 to the duc de Berwick. Lot 292, estimate €59,000–120,000.
No. 2783 – montre perpétuelle à répétition des minutes
A very fine and extremely rare minute-repeating watch with automatic winding, power reserve indication and thermometer. Its engine-turned dial and the beautifully resolved 48-hour power reserve and thermometer indications make it one of the most elegant watches in the sale. Lot 293, estimate €170,000–330,000.
No. 1176 – montre garde-temps à tourbillon
Sold on 12 February 1809, this extremely rare and historically important pocket watch has a four-minute tourbillon, échappement naturel, double subsidiary seconds, power reserve and stop-seconds. It combines two of Breguet’s main inventions, the tourbillon and the échappement naturel, and is the first four-minute tourbillon and only his third tourbillon watch ever made. Lot 294, estimate €500,000–830,000.
