Breguet acquires antique pieces

At three auctions held at the end of 2015 in Geneva and Paris, the Breguet Museum acquired two old watches and a collection of historic letters.

The Breguet N°3104 pocket watch, purchased at Antiquorum’s November sale in Geneva, recently resurfaced after being in the possession of a European family for more than 140 years. Sold originally in 1818 to the Spanish royal family, this 62.5 mm pocket watch in 18-carat gold has a jumping hour hand in addition to a minute-repeater function. Made by Pierre-Benjamin Tavernier, its guilloche silver dial consists of two parts. It discreetly bears Breguet’s secret signature on either side of the number 12. This timepiece contains a 22’’’ calibre with a visible reverse cylinder escapement.

The second piece acquired by Breguet bears the number 4720. This tact-watch with regulator dial was sold to Casimir Périer in 1841. Featuring a yellow gold hunter case, this timepiece is accompanied by a double chain and a key. Its satin-finished silver dial shows two counters and a central minute hand.

The ten old letters for their part relate the activities of the Vaud watchmaker in Russia from 1808 to 1810. The correspondence is written by Breguet father and son to Lazare Moreau, the young salesman who ran the firm’s St-Petersburg branch at the time.

Steeped in history, these objects can be discovered in the Breguet museums in Zurich, Paris and Shanghai.

January 21, 2016