37,760 CHF
“A Monsieur Hemoc pour Monsieur de Bourienne” Breguet, No. 1944, sold to Monsieur Hemoc pour Monsieur de Bourienne on November 15, 1809, for 2,000 francs. Very fine and rare, 20K gold “répétition à ponts”, quarter repeating à toc pocket watch with ruby cylinder escapement. Four-body, “Empire”, No. 1606, by Joly (master mark), engineturned with polished bezel and border. Hinged gold cuvette. White enamel by Borel with Breguet numerals and outer minute track, secret signature below 12. Blued steel “Breguet” hands. 51 mm. (23’’’), gilt, standing barrel, jeweled train, overhanging ruby cylinder escapement, plain three-arm balance with parachute on the top pivot, blued steel flat balance spring, index regulator with bimetallic temperature compensation curb, all-or-nothing repeating with a single hammer on a block on the case activated by depressing the pendant. Dial and cuvette signed. Diam. 55 mm. Notes Louis Antoine Fauvelet de Bourienne (1769 - 1834) was a French diplomat who served as Napoleon Bonaparte’s private secretary during his Egyptian campaign. He had been educated at the military school of Brienne along with Napoleon, and wrote his memoirs, recounting his experiences with Bonaparte. Bourienne served as Ministre Plénipotentiaire in Hamburg during the period in which he purchased this watch.
Auctioneer:
Antiquorum
Date:
2006-10-15
