A Monsieur Francis Baring

A Monsieur Francis Baring. "Sympathique" Clock No.257,with the accompanying Watch No.4745,sold on 1 July 1845,for the sum of 9000 Francs. Gilt bronze mounted "Sympathique" mantel clock, No. 247, with quarter-striking and perpetual date calendar. Gold "Sympathique" watch, with jump hours, quarter-repeating and winding indicator, constructed on the principles of the "gardetemps". Notes History : STRONG> According to the fabrication records, the construction of the watch and clock from the start to the day of final delivery covered a period of 17 years. Although first entered into the fabrication books in March1,1828,continuous work did not begin on the watch until October,1837,to be completed in all except detail by April,] 841. The clock was begun in 1836 but not delivered until 1 July 1845; even then some further work remained to be done, as the cradle supporting the watch was actually gilded on 30 December 1845. The clock and watch returned for adjustments and overhaul on several occasions up until 1849, and there are indications in the repair books that a watchmaker from Breguet may have attended to the clock at Sir Francis Baring's house.Indeed in June 1847,the clock and watch were returned to Breguet simply for storage during the summer months(Sir Francis Baring was in the habit of passing the winters in Paris and the summers in England). Hystory (continued): Abraham-Louis Breguet conceived the idea of the "Sympathique" whilst exiled in Switzerland durin Read more…