179,500 CHF
Breguet, No. 4821, sold by Fossin et Fils, Paris, to Prince A. Demidoff on 3 December 1842 for FF 2,500.Extremely fine and rare 18 ct. gold hardstone-set watch with a special escapement. Eccentric, set at the top within a single piece of bloodstone, with a similar mosaic decoration. Roman chapters on white agate cartouches, outer minute ring made of 60 pieces of red Jasper. Notes Although not sold until 1842, the watch is found in the earlier main Breguet register, described as a 'boite a incrustations'. It has a very unusual case and dial for Breguet, apparently made for a special order. This type of watch, with regular gold case and enamel dial, cost about FF 1,000. The additional FF 1,500 were just for the case and the dial.Breguet Abraham LouisFor a biography, see page 229.Jean-Baptiste Fossinwas a prominent Parisian jeweller, more often a client or agent of Breguet than a partner., However on occasion Breguet and Fossin co-operated, in particular with watches with boîtes à incrustations. There is one other similar watch (No. 208, Nouvelle Series) signed the same way. Apparently, Fossin specialised in jewellery with hardstone mosaics.
Auctioneer:
Antiquorum
Date:
2001-03-31
