66,700 CHF
Breguet No. 3230, Montre Garde Temps, constructed between 1818 and 1819, sold on July 13, 1827 to Capitaine Baudin, for 14000 Francs.Fine silver pocket chronometer, in a later red leather fitted box. Three body, massive, "forme quatre baguettes" by Amy Gros, No. 666, polished. Hinged gilt brass cuvette. Silver engine-turned with Roman numerals on a polished chapter ring and subsidiary seconds on chapter "XII". Blued steel Breguet hands. Notes This chronometer was first delivered on July 28, 1819, to Monsieur Cailleau, travelling to Egypt on the account of the Minister of the Interior, for the sum of 1200 Francs. Bought back by Breguet on June 2, 1827, for 800 Francs, it was then sold to Capitaine Baudin.This watch is an example of the final development of pocket chronometers by Breguet. A single barrel with fusee have replaced the twin barrel calibre of the earlier type and the movement is of a more robust construction throughout. By the year 1818 when it was made, English chronometer makers, particularly Earnshaw, had begun to produce such instruments in substantial numbers and supply them to both merchant and naval shipping. The advantage gained by the use of an accurate timekeeper for navigaion was significant in the struggle between countries for trading superiority, and the French Navy was in no less a need of such watches and box chronometers than their English rivals. If such instruments could be made reliable and not over delicate, they could remain on board Read more…
Auctioneer:
Antiquorum
Date:
1999-10-23
