333,500 CHF
Oudin, No. 253, "Eleve de Breguet, Rue Vivienne No. 7", dated an 1806. Exceptionally fine and equally rare 20K gold double-barrel self-winding perpetuelle watch with quarter-repeating, 60-minute power reserve indication, Réaumur thermometer, and Robin chronometer-lever escapement, most likely made for the Exposition des produits de l'industrie française, 1806-1807. Four-body, massive, "Empire", by Tavernier, No. 2544, engine-turned back with small initial disc in the center, reeded band, gilt brass hinged cuvette. Notes Charles Oudin, born in Clermont in 1772. He was a pupil of Breguet and one of his best foremen. He devised a way of fitting equation of time to souscription watches. Oudin was in business on his own in the Galerie de Pierre, Palais Royal, from circa 1804 to 1825, and was then succeeded by his son, who transferred the firm to Galerie Montpensier, 1830-1840, and subsequently took Détouche into partnership. A. Charpentier was the successor to Oudin Fils, using the signature: Charles Oudin à Paris, Horloger de L.L. M.M., l'Empereur et l'Impératrice de Russie. To accompany the display at the 1862 Exhibition in London, Oudin-Charpentier produced a book entitled: "Catalogue of Chief Exhibits by Oudin-Charpentier, principal clockmaker to their Majesties The Queen and King of Spain and to the Imperial Navy". Oudin-Charpentier was made official watchmaker of the French Navy: a mosaic which still exists today, at No. 52 Place du Palais Royal, bears witness
Auctioneer:
Antiquorum
Date:
2003-11-16
