4,370 CHF
Giteau, Eleve de Breguet, 140, Palais Royal, Paris, No. 519, circa 1820. Fine 18K gold quarter repeating watch with lever escapement of the second generation. Three body, Empire, engine-turned (the back worn). Hinged gilt brass cuvette. Gold engineturned with black champleve enamelled Roman numerals and half hour divisions in a floral pattern. Blued steel Breguet hands. Notes Note: Invented by Mudge circa 1760, the lever escapement was used by few makers in England and even less in France, including Breguet and Robin, during the last two decades of the 18th century. But clue to the lack of "draw " it was then abandoned in favour of the duplex escapement in England, the detent escapement in France or Switzerland. After the invention by Breguet, circa 1810 of the lever escapement with "draw" , it was reintroduced by the best makers and progressively replaced the cylinder escapement for the best quality watches. The lateral lever escapement of this watch is typical of the earliest levers escapement with "draw", as produced in Switzerland from circa 1818.
Auctioneer:
Antiquorum
Date:
1997-10-18
