$118,000
Breguet, No. 81, 1990's.A set of two Souscription watches.The wristwatch18K gold gentleman's minute-repeating astronomical wristwatch, perpetual calendar, phases and ages of the moon. Engine-turned silvered gold, signed: "Breguet, No. 81", with Roman numerals on a plain reserve; small subsidiary rings for days of the week, months with concentric leap year indicator, the date and aperture for the moon phases, the ages engraved on the border. Secret signature on either side of "XII". Blued-steel hands. Notes The first Souscription set was specially made for the theme auction The Art of Breguet, Antiquorum, Geneva, Sunday,April 14, 1991, lot 203.Contained in a polished burr walnut veneered casket, lined in paisley pattern fabric, with lockable drawer below containing a gilt magnifying glass, a calendar setting pin, a gold Breguet watch chain, and a polishing stick.Abraham-Louis Breguet conceived the idea for the Souscription in 1794, another of the "inventions" resulting from his period of forced exile in Switzerland during the French Revolution. The concept was brilliant and simple to offer a watch to his clients that could be reserved in advance and delivered upon completion.
Auctioneer:
Antiquorum
Date:
1999-09-30
