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Lot Essay
Sold to the premier Duke of England, the Duke of Norfolk, this superb example of a rare Breguet hunting cased watch is fitted with several of Breguet’s best known technical features including the ruby cylinder escapement, half-quarter repeating and jump hours.
According to the Breguet Archives, this watch, described as being ‘Première Classe’, was constructed between 1818 and 1820. It was first sold to a Monsieur Germain on 16 September 1820 for the sum of 2400 Francs. It was bought back, as was Breguet’s practice, and sent to Fatton in London, for the same price, on 13 July 1821. Just over a month later it sold to His Grace the 12th Duke of Norfolk.
Returning to auction after almost 20 years in one of the world’s great watch collections, the present watch has exalted noble provenance and is an epitome of Breguet's work, a highlight for the enthusiast of outstanding timepieces.
Interestingly, in common with most of Breguet's hunting cased key wound watches, the dial is positioned with the numerals XII below the pendant rather than the position favoured by the vast majority of other makers where the III is placed in this position. Often preferred by Breguet’s English clients, perhaps due to their love of outdoor pursuits, it is thought that only about 150 hunting cased watches were made.
The construction used for the hammer to strike the gong in this watch is Breguet’s most sophisticated: when the repeating is activated the hammer does not make direct contact with the coiled gong. Placed between the hammer and gong is an intermediary solid hammer fixed to the plate by screws, the primary hammer in fact makes contact with the fixed hammer which in turn strike the gong. This system was developed by Michel Weber, Breguet's chief craftsman in June 1793 and was intended to improve the sound of the gong. Breguet said "we will equip all our best watches with this system in future".
A feature found in a number of Breguet's repeaters is the jump hour. The hand stands stationary until about three minutes to the hour when it begins to move. By the time it is half way to the next hour the minute hand will be at the hour and the hour hand will jump the remaining distance to the hour.
The Duke of Norfolk is the premier Duke in the peerage of England, and also, as Earl of Arundel, the premier Earl. The Duke of Norfolk is, moreover, the Earl Marshal and Hereditary Marshal of England. The seat of the Dukes of Norfolk is Arundel Castle in Sussex, although the title refers to the county of Norfolk. The dukes of Norfolk have historically been Catholic, a state of affairs known as recusancy in England.
Bernard Edward Howard, 12th Duke of Norfolk (21 November 1765 – 16 March 1842)
Bernard Howard succeeded to the title of Duke of Norfolk in 1815 upon the death of his cousin Charles Howard, 11th Duke of Norfolk. An ardent Roman Catholic, like most of his family, he strongly supported Catholic Emancipation, and gave offence to his Protestant neighbours by giving a banquet to celebrate the passage of the Roman Catholic Relief Act 1829. He was also known as the Grumpy Duke. He was elected a Foreign Honorary Member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 1803. In 1834, the Duke of Norfolk was invested by King William IV into the Order of the Garter.
According to the Breguet Archives, this watch, described as being ‘Première Classe’, was constructed between 1818 and 1820. It was first sold to a Monsieur Germain on 16 September 1820 for the sum of 2400 Francs. It was bought back, as was Breguet’s practice, and sent to Fatton in London, for the same price, on 13 July 1821. Just over a month later it sold to His Grace the 12th Duke of Norfolk.
Returning to auction after almost 20 years in one of the world’s great watch collections, the present watch has exalted noble provenance and is an epitome of Breguet's work, a highlight for the enthusiast of outstanding timepieces.
Interestingly, in common with most of Breguet's hunting cased key wound watches, the dial is positioned with the numerals XII below the pendant rather than the position favoured by the vast majority of other makers where the III is placed in this position. Often preferred by Breguet’s English clients, perhaps due to their love of outdoor pursuits, it is thought that only about 150 hunting cased watches were made.
The construction used for the hammer to strike the gong in this watch is Breguet’s most sophisticated: when the repeating is activated the hammer does not make direct contact with the coiled gong. Placed between the hammer and gong is an intermediary solid hammer fixed to the plate by screws, the primary hammer in fact makes contact with the fixed hammer which in turn strike the gong. This system was developed by Michel Weber, Breguet's chief craftsman in June 1793 and was intended to improve the sound of the gong. Breguet said "we will equip all our best watches with this system in future".
A feature found in a number of Breguet's repeaters is the jump hour. The hand stands stationary until about three minutes to the hour when it begins to move. By the time it is half way to the next hour the minute hand will be at the hour and the hour hand will jump the remaining distance to the hour.
The Duke of Norfolk is the premier Duke in the peerage of England, and also, as Earl of Arundel, the premier Earl. The Duke of Norfolk is, moreover, the Earl Marshal and Hereditary Marshal of England. The seat of the Dukes of Norfolk is Arundel Castle in Sussex, although the title refers to the county of Norfolk. The dukes of Norfolk have historically been Catholic, a state of affairs known as recusancy in England.
Bernard Edward Howard, 12th Duke of Norfolk (21 November 1765 – 16 March 1842)
Bernard Howard succeeded to the title of Duke of Norfolk in 1815 upon the death of his cousin Charles Howard, 11th Duke of Norfolk. An ardent Roman Catholic, like most of his family, he strongly supported Catholic Emancipation, and gave offence to his Protestant neighbours by giving a banquet to celebrate the passage of the Roman Catholic Relief Act 1829. He was also known as the Grumpy Duke. He was elected a Foreign Honorary Member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 1803. In 1834, the Duke of Norfolk was invested by King William IV into the Order of the Garter.