No. 630 18kt Gold Quarter-repeating Self-winding Open-face Watch, c. 1810, two-tone engine-turned radial roman numeral dial with applied silver name boss engraved "Breguet," blued-steel Breguet hands, and sweep center seconds, three-quarter-plate movement engraved in "Breguet a Paris," with going barrel, straight line lever escapement with draw and visible jeweled pallets, plain gold three-arm balance, flat balance-spring, pierced and engraved gold crescent-shaped self-winding weight with a limiting device to prevent over winding, two-spring loaded shock-absorbing winding weight, repeating on gongs activated by pendant, Guillaume Mermillod engine-turned case with blue champlevé enameled monogram on case back, interior case stamped "630," dia. 56 mm.
Provenance: The estate of David G. Newsom.
Geneva, Hotel Noga Hilton, Antiquorum sale number 205114, October 16, 2005, lot 176.
Note: Antiquorum catalog entry: "This watch was clearly completed, cased and fitted with a dial circa 1810. The movement of much smaller diameter is to be compared to those produced in the 1780's by Jaquet Droz in Switzerland for the Chinese market. In order to meet the fashion for much larger watches it has been fitted in a gilt metal ring onto which the repeating gongs are screwed. The straight line lever escapement is of the type used by Breguet on his watches circa 1810. According to the monogram engraved on the winding weight and the back of the case, and the signature on the movement and dial, this watch could have been completed in Breguet's workshop to meet a special request. The case was made by Guillaume Mermillod, who was working for Breguet at the time, and the movement could have been found unfinished after the French revolution. On July 27, 2021 Breguet stated "It is an interesting and rare piece but it is not a timepiece manufactured by the Breguet workshops. The movement is quite different compared to the "Perpetuelle" self-wind watches made by Breguet."
Condition
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