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Lot Essay
With detached original solid silver back, original letter of the Observatoire Besançon dated 15 October 1984 confirming that the present first class pocket chronometer fitted with a tourbillon was submitted by Messrs Breguet on 5 July 1935. It was adjusted by Mr. G. Grogg and participated at the 41st Chronometer Trial where it was classified 12th with 217.30 points and awarded a gold medal. Furthermore delivered with the photocopy of the Observatory registers and Breguet, 28 Place Vendôme, Paris original fitted presentation box No. 3046.
According to the Archives of Montres Breguet, the present chronometer tourbillon with Empire-style silver case with gold borders was made in 1934 and sold to Mr. Charlier on 30 April 1934 for the amount of Francs 16,500. It was originally made with a solid silver back with the inlaid initials P.A.C. to the reverse and engraved inscription N'avoir jamais à rougir d'une heure passée! (Never having to blush from an hour spent) and Etre Juste, Etre Vrai, Etre un homme (to be just, to be honest, to be a man) to the inside. Although not mentioned in the Archives of Breguet, these engravings were certainly added by the first owner of the watch.
From the day of its sale in 1934 the watch has most likely remained in the family of Mr. Charlier until it was offered at public auction on 10 November 1984 where it was purchased by the present owner. This important private collector and aficionado of highly complicated timepieces wished to have unhindered view of its movement, for him the most important part of the watch. In 1987 he commissioned the renowned Chronometrie Beyer in Zurich with the making of an additional case back centre. Its circular centre bearing the engraved initials and inscriptions was removed with outmost care and exchanged against the present sapphire crystal hold by the original silver bezel and gold rim. The result is of supreme quality and executed in a manner that a skilled casemaker could restore the back to its original condition without leaving any traces.
The present high precision watch is a most impressive example of one of the exceedingly rare tourbillon chronometers of Breguet's recent production. The ébauche was commissioned by Breguet and made by Victorin Piguet & Co. of Le Sentier. During the first half of the 20th century, the renowned firm supplied most of the ébauches for complicated movements, including tourbillons, single button and split seconds chronographs, repeaters and perpetual calendars, exclusively to prestigious firms like Breguet.
The tourbillon carriage is based on a design patented by the Horological School of Le Sentier and supplied by Fritz A. Robert-Charrue (1908-1983), a celebrated watchmaker of Le Locle and creator of one of the smallest tourbillon watches ever made with a diameter of 19 mm. (see Reinhard Meis Das Tourbillon, p. 357). An apprentice of the famous Jämes Pellaton, he later succeeded him as a teacher and director of the Technicum in Le Locle. Robert-Charrue supplied four or five of such tourbillon carriages to Breguet in Paris, including Breguet no. 3357, a similar tourbillon with Guillaume balance and power reserve in two colour case sold to Mr. L. Harrison Dulles, a passionate watch collector and regular client of Breguet.
Offered here for only the second time at public auction and preserved in excellent overall condition, this masterpiece pays tribute to Abraham Louis Breguet's horological legacy. It combines past and modern watchmaking in a most harmonious way and is part of what is considered the pinnacle of 20th century watchmaking.
The Tourbillon
On 10 November 1801, horological legend Abraham Louis Breguet (1747-1823) received a patent for his ingenious tourbillon invention. Breguet designed the tourbillon (or whirlwind) to compensate for fluctuations and errors in time measurement caused by the position a watch is placed in. For example, watches with traditional movements may keep excellent time when resting on a desk horizontally, but when that same watch is placed vertically in a pocket, gravity affects the frequency or rate of the escapement and thus its accuracy.
Breguet's invention compensated for these gravitational effects by placing the escapement in a revolving carriage. As the tourbillon carriage revolves (usually one entire revolution per minute), its position constantly changes and consequently the fluctuations in rate caused by gravity are averaged out. Once a tourbillon watch is properly adjusted, the effects of gravity are essentially nullified, regardless of how it is positioned.
Precision timekeeping has always been vital to the scientific community, and in 1873, the first annual chronometer competition was held at the Geneva Astronomical Observatory. Rigorous quantitative internationally recognized testing standards were established. The testing, which initially lasted for 40 days, consisted of placing the watches in various positions and temperature conditions. The prestigious watchmakers Patek Philippe were awarded First Prize in the competition as early as 1884.
According to the Archives of Montres Breguet, the present chronometer tourbillon with Empire-style silver case with gold borders was made in 1934 and sold to Mr. Charlier on 30 April 1934 for the amount of Francs 16,500. It was originally made with a solid silver back with the inlaid initials P.A.C. to the reverse and engraved inscription N'avoir jamais à rougir d'une heure passée! (Never having to blush from an hour spent) and Etre Juste, Etre Vrai, Etre un homme (to be just, to be honest, to be a man) to the inside. Although not mentioned in the Archives of Breguet, these engravings were certainly added by the first owner of the watch.
From the day of its sale in 1934 the watch has most likely remained in the family of Mr. Charlier until it was offered at public auction on 10 November 1984 where it was purchased by the present owner. This important private collector and aficionado of highly complicated timepieces wished to have unhindered view of its movement, for him the most important part of the watch. In 1987 he commissioned the renowned Chronometrie Beyer in Zurich with the making of an additional case back centre. Its circular centre bearing the engraved initials and inscriptions was removed with outmost care and exchanged against the present sapphire crystal hold by the original silver bezel and gold rim. The result is of supreme quality and executed in a manner that a skilled casemaker could restore the back to its original condition without leaving any traces.
The present high precision watch is a most impressive example of one of the exceedingly rare tourbillon chronometers of Breguet's recent production. The ébauche was commissioned by Breguet and made by Victorin Piguet & Co. of Le Sentier. During the first half of the 20th century, the renowned firm supplied most of the ébauches for complicated movements, including tourbillons, single button and split seconds chronographs, repeaters and perpetual calendars, exclusively to prestigious firms like Breguet.
The tourbillon carriage is based on a design patented by the Horological School of Le Sentier and supplied by Fritz A. Robert-Charrue (1908-1983), a celebrated watchmaker of Le Locle and creator of one of the smallest tourbillon watches ever made with a diameter of 19 mm. (see Reinhard Meis Das Tourbillon, p. 357). An apprentice of the famous Jämes Pellaton, he later succeeded him as a teacher and director of the Technicum in Le Locle. Robert-Charrue supplied four or five of such tourbillon carriages to Breguet in Paris, including Breguet no. 3357, a similar tourbillon with Guillaume balance and power reserve in two colour case sold to Mr. L. Harrison Dulles, a passionate watch collector and regular client of Breguet.
Offered here for only the second time at public auction and preserved in excellent overall condition, this masterpiece pays tribute to Abraham Louis Breguet's horological legacy. It combines past and modern watchmaking in a most harmonious way and is part of what is considered the pinnacle of 20th century watchmaking.
The Tourbillon
On 10 November 1801, horological legend Abraham Louis Breguet (1747-1823) received a patent for his ingenious tourbillon invention. Breguet designed the tourbillon (or whirlwind) to compensate for fluctuations and errors in time measurement caused by the position a watch is placed in. For example, watches with traditional movements may keep excellent time when resting on a desk horizontally, but when that same watch is placed vertically in a pocket, gravity affects the frequency or rate of the escapement and thus its accuracy.
Breguet's invention compensated for these gravitational effects by placing the escapement in a revolving carriage. As the tourbillon carriage revolves (usually one entire revolution per minute), its position constantly changes and consequently the fluctuations in rate caused by gravity are averaged out. Once a tourbillon watch is properly adjusted, the effects of gravity are essentially nullified, regardless of how it is positioned.
Precision timekeeping has always been vital to the scientific community, and in 1873, the first annual chronometer competition was held at the Geneva Astronomical Observatory. Rigorous quantitative internationally recognized testing standards were established. The testing, which initially lasted for 40 days, consisted of placing the watches in various positions and temperature conditions. The prestigious watchmakers Patek Philippe were awarded First Prize in the competition as early as 1884.