446,250 CHF
A Monsieur L. H. Dulles Astronomical watch No. 1639, sold on 29 July 1929, for the sum of 40,000 Francs. Gold watch with perpetual calendar, phase of the moon, differential equation of time and sunrise/sunset indication. Original red leather fitted case. Notes History: This watch was made for Breguet by the finest specialist of the period: Les Fils de Victorin Piguet, and it is registered in their books under the Nos. 120a and 120b. The differential equation, and sunrise/sunset mechanism were made by Léon Aubert, but taking into account the date of delivery it would appear that they were finished after the death of Aubert, by his pupil and successor Paul-Auguste Golay. Note: In his article published in: Chronométrofilia, No. 27, Winter 1989, Daniel Aubert, the grandson of the maker, describes this watch and publishes original photographs of the equation and sunrise/sunset mechanism taken during~ the manufacture, alongside an extract from the records of: Les Fils de Victorin Piguet. It would appear that apart from the prototype made by Léon Aubert, only four watches were made by the firm with this form of equation mechanism: Patek Philippe No. 198023, sold on 6 April 1927 to J.W. Packard, and recently acquired by Patek P h i l i p p e for their museum, an example supplied to Vacheron & Constantin and two others including the one currently offered for sale. All the movements are virtually identical except for minor finishing details. A copy of the article written by Monsi
Auctioneer:
Antiquorum
Date:
1991-04-14
