773,500 CHF
Breguet, No. 423/5. Started July 6, 1804, finished 14 December 1808, sold to Emperor Alexander I for 14,000 Francs, entered into the register on February 12, 1809. Extremely rare and highly important mahogany and gilt bronze Pendule Marine with patented constant force escapement, 40-hour power reserve indicator, special lever winding arrangement and visible escapement. Mahogany, rectangular, by Duchosal, "colonnes rondes", glazed on all sides, plain base, oval observation window at the top with tapered gilt bronze folding handle, oval gold polished inlaid cartouche engraved: "Echappement libre à force constante par Breguet" on the base, four gilt bronze feet and winding lever. Silvered Breguet numerals, outer minute track with five-minute star markers and fifteen-minute Arabic markers, subsidiary seconds. Blued steel Breguet hands. Gilt brass with two going barrels concealed in the base, vertical cylindrical column secured onto the base supporting the large triangular horizontal platform with the going train driven from a pinion hidden in the column, constant force escapement with spring lever, similar to Peto cross detent, delivering a pulse every second, large (60 mm.) three-arm cut compensated balance with circular temperature sliding weights and mean time nuts, two gold helical balance springs with terminal curves, working in opposite phases – when one expands, the other contracts. Unusual power reserve indicator for each mainspring with silvered sector secured to
Auctioneer:
Antiquorum
Date:
2002-10-19
