Lot Essay
According to the Archives of Montres Breguet, the present "montre à tact" with gold case by Gros, silver band and small souscription calibre movement was made for Madame de Betancourt in 1799, the wife of Agustín de Betancourt, Abraham Louis Breguet's oldest and perhaps best friend.
Agustín de Bétancourt y Molina (Puerto de la Cruz, Tenerife, Spain, 1758 - Saint Petersburg, Russia, 1824)
De Bétancourt, a famous hydraulic engineer, was a descendant of the Norman navigator Jean de Béthencourt who had discovered the Canary Islands in 1402. Agustín de Bétancourt had been a frequent visitor to Paris since 1784 and had during this time become one of the closest friends of Breguet and his family. It was a deep, loyal and constant friendship, and throughout his career de Bétancourt remained the most faithful promoter of Breguet's genius, first in Spain and then in Russia. This advice and contacts undoubtedly helped Breguet to sell watches in Spain from 1787 and perhaps earlier (see Breguet - Watchmakers since 1775 by Emmanuel Breguet, pp. 53,59-60,77,86,108, 129-132,152,167,170,176,202-204,206,209,213-214,218,271,357. For a portrait of de Bétancourt, short note on him and illustration of his "montre à tact" no. 960 sold to him in 1802 see Breguet and the Louvre - An Apogee of European Watchmaking, pp. 141-143).
De Bétancourt's work ranged from steam engines and balloons to structural engineering and urban planning. While on a short journey to St. Petersburg in 1807, he had met the Czar who had encouraged him to come to Russia in order to found a Corps of Hydraulic Engineers, promoting him to the rank of General.
As an educator, de Bétancourt founded and managed the Spanish Corps of Engineers and the Saint Petersburg Institute of Communications Engineers. Additionally, he supervised planning and construction in Saint Petersburg, Kronstadt, Nizhny Novgorod and other Russian cities as an urban planner and construction manager.
During his time in Russia, he maintained a cordial relationship with Lazare Moreau, the manager of Breguet's branch in St. Petersburg, and apparently advised him on various issues.
Agustín de Bétancourt y Molina (Puerto de la Cruz, Tenerife, Spain, 1758 - Saint Petersburg, Russia, 1824)
De Bétancourt, a famous hydraulic engineer, was a descendant of the Norman navigator Jean de Béthencourt who had discovered the Canary Islands in 1402. Agustín de Bétancourt had been a frequent visitor to Paris since 1784 and had during this time become one of the closest friends of Breguet and his family. It was a deep, loyal and constant friendship, and throughout his career de Bétancourt remained the most faithful promoter of Breguet's genius, first in Spain and then in Russia. This advice and contacts undoubtedly helped Breguet to sell watches in Spain from 1787 and perhaps earlier (see Breguet - Watchmakers since 1775 by Emmanuel Breguet, pp. 53,59-60,77,86,108, 129-132,152,167,170,176,202-204,206,209,213-214,218,271,357. For a portrait of de Bétancourt, short note on him and illustration of his "montre à tact" no. 960 sold to him in 1802 see Breguet and the Louvre - An Apogee of European Watchmaking, pp. 141-143).
De Bétancourt's work ranged from steam engines and balloons to structural engineering and urban planning. While on a short journey to St. Petersburg in 1807, he had met the Czar who had encouraged him to come to Russia in order to found a Corps of Hydraulic Engineers, promoting him to the rank of General.
As an educator, de Bétancourt founded and managed the Spanish Corps of Engineers and the Saint Petersburg Institute of Communications Engineers. Additionally, he supervised planning and construction in Saint Petersburg, Kronstadt, Nizhny Novgorod and other Russian cities as an urban planner and construction manager.
During his time in Russia, he maintained a cordial relationship with Lazare Moreau, the manager of Breguet's branch in St. Petersburg, and apparently advised him on various issues.