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Lot Essay
This sensational and ultra-rare Breguet triple calendar chronograph has an equally sensational provenance, having been sold to Jean-Paul Belmondo, one of the most famous French actors of the 20th century and an icon and national treasure of France. For the wristwatch collector, this triple calendar chronograph is one of the finest to be made by Breguet during the 1960s and 70s and probably the best preserved of any example known today. Moreover, as one of the vintage rarities of the OAK Collection, it was chosen for its originality, beauty, provenance and original condition.
According to the Breguet Archives, the present chronograph wristwatch with silvered matte dial, calendar and moon phases was made in 1972 and sold on 22 December 1973 to M. Belmondo for the sum of 3,500 Francs. Although the first name of Mr. Belmondo is not stated in the Archives it can safely be assumed that the first owner of this fine watch was the famous French actor Jean-Paul Belmondo, and indeed, he is seen wearing this very watch in a contemporary publicity photograph taken at the Cannes Film Festival in 1974.
The layout of the dial and the solid and strong case proportions of the present watch echo some the greatest watch designs of all times. Inspired by French avant-garde design, these triple calendar chronographs by the celebrated house of Breguet are almost never found at auction. The present watch gives collectors the perfect opportunity to obtain an immense rarity among Breguet wristwatches with incredible provenance.
Jean-Paul Charles Belmondo (1933-2021)
One of the best known French actors of the 20th century, Belmondo was a major French film star for several decades from the 1960s onwards. His best known credits include Breathless (1960), That Man from Rio (1964), Pierrot le Fou (1965), Borsalino (1970), and The Professional (1981). He was most notable for portraying police officers in action thriller films and became known for his unwillingness to appear in English-language films despite being heavily courted by Hollywood. Between 1969 and 1982 he played four times in the most popular films of the year in France: The Brain (1969), Fear Over the City (1975), Animal (1977), Ace of Aces (1982). The popularity of Jean-Paul Belmondo as an actor is mainly due to the characters he played in his movies, loving to highlight the macho man and fighter, but also appearing brave and heroic, which appealed to a wide audience in France and also abroad.
During his career, Belmondo was thought of as the French counterpart of actors such as James Dean, Marlon Brando and Humphrey Bogart. In 1989, Belmondo won the César Award for Best Actor for his performance in Itinéraire d’un enfant gate. He was nominated for two BAFTA Awards throughout his career. In 2011 and again in 2017 he received a lifetime achievement honour: the Palme d’honneur during the Cannes Film Festival and a César d'honneur at the 42nd César Awards.
According to the Breguet Archives, the present chronograph wristwatch with silvered matte dial, calendar and moon phases was made in 1972 and sold on 22 December 1973 to M. Belmondo for the sum of 3,500 Francs. Although the first name of Mr. Belmondo is not stated in the Archives it can safely be assumed that the first owner of this fine watch was the famous French actor Jean-Paul Belmondo, and indeed, he is seen wearing this very watch in a contemporary publicity photograph taken at the Cannes Film Festival in 1974.
The layout of the dial and the solid and strong case proportions of the present watch echo some the greatest watch designs of all times. Inspired by French avant-garde design, these triple calendar chronographs by the celebrated house of Breguet are almost never found at auction. The present watch gives collectors the perfect opportunity to obtain an immense rarity among Breguet wristwatches with incredible provenance.
Jean-Paul Charles Belmondo (1933-2021)
One of the best known French actors of the 20th century, Belmondo was a major French film star for several decades from the 1960s onwards. His best known credits include Breathless (1960), That Man from Rio (1964), Pierrot le Fou (1965), Borsalino (1970), and The Professional (1981). He was most notable for portraying police officers in action thriller films and became known for his unwillingness to appear in English-language films despite being heavily courted by Hollywood. Between 1969 and 1982 he played four times in the most popular films of the year in France: The Brain (1969), Fear Over the City (1975), Animal (1977), Ace of Aces (1982). The popularity of Jean-Paul Belmondo as an actor is mainly due to the characters he played in his movies, loving to highlight the macho man and fighter, but also appearing brave and heroic, which appealed to a wide audience in France and also abroad.
During his career, Belmondo was thought of as the French counterpart of actors such as James Dean, Marlon Brando and Humphrey Bogart. In 1989, Belmondo won the César Award for Best Actor for his performance in Itinéraire d’un enfant gate. He was nominated for two BAFTA Awards throughout his career. In 2011 and again in 2017 he received a lifetime achievement honour: the Palme d’honneur during the Cannes Film Festival and a César d'honneur at the 42nd César Awards.