115,000 CHF
A Monsieur le Comte D'Archinto Watch No. 2489, sold on 22 May 1820, for the sum of 1800 Francs. Gold watch with "grande" and "petite" sonnerie striking and minute repeating. Notes Provenance: Formerly in the collection of the Reverend W.B. Hawkins, a certificate supplied by Breguet on 17 March 1891. Exhibition: This watch was exhibited in Paris at the Palais Galliéra, in October 1923, on the centenary of the death of Abraham Louis Breguet, Cat. No. 16. Note: Watches with minute-repeating are most uncommon at this period. In fact the majority of the watches produced by Breguet with grandesonnerie striking combined with a separate repeating train were destined for the Islamic market. However, the quality of this movement, constructed on the principals of the garde-temps, is superior to most of the examples destined for the Middle East, which were usually fitted with a ruby cylinder escapement. Workmanship throughout is exceptional, with much of the highly finished striking mechanism visible on the back plate, and a lateral lever escapement of the most developed form, with adjustable jewelled pallets, draw, the balance with inset adjusting weights and shock protection on both pivots. (For details of the escapement see G. Daniels, The Art of Breguet, p. 304 - 314, fig. 391. ) Biography: Little information has been found to be readily available on the life of the Comte d' Archinto (1783 - 1861). From a noble Milanese family, he was Ambassador to the House of Austria.
Auctioneer:
Antiquorum
Date:
1991-04-14
