41,400 CHF
A Son Altesse le Prince de Galle Watch No. 921, sold on 24 Floréal an 11, (14 May 1803) for the sum of 1440 Francs. Gold hunting-cased "simple" watch of "nouveau calibre". Notes History: This watch was collected from Breguet by the Duke of Bedford on behalf of the Prince of Wales. Note: The fact that Breguet records this watch as being collected by the Duke of Bedford on behalf of the Prince of Wales, indicates that it was a direct commission rather than a chance purchase; indeed, certain details of its construction are more in keeping with English taste of the period. With the exception of the montres tact, it is certainly one of the earliest savonette or "hunter" watches that Breguet produced, and the dial is planted with the Roman numeral III alongside the pendant (in France this was usually the position of the XII, even on savonette watches). The engine-turned centre of the dial is also atypical of Breguet, being of a circular pattern, but is reminiscent of Recordon, his agent in London. It is therefore quite possible that the watch was made for the Prince following instructions received from Recordon. With the term nouveau calibre (new calibre) Breguet described a new type of movement that he introduced for simple watches after 1796, when he returned from exile. George Augustus Frederick PRINCE OF WALES AND LATER KING OF GREAT BRITAIN AND IRELAND (1762 - 1830) Eldest son of George III and Queen Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, he was educated with his brot
Auctioneer:
Antiquorum
Date:
1991-04-14
