Breguet et Fils
No. 1666 ‘Montre Médaillon’ | A rare gold ruby cylinder single hand🏅ed Souscription wa🍸tch with key and gold chain, Sold to Général Jean-Andoche Junot, Duke of Abrantes on 20 February 1805 for 1,200 Francs, Circa 1805
Auction Closed
December 6, 09:17 PM GMT
Estimate
20,000 - 30,000 USD
Lot Details
Description
Dial: engine-turned gold, satin finish chapter ring with black Roman numeral indices with five minutꦰe divisions, single blued steel Breguet hand
Caliber: Breguet no. 1666, giltཧ, ruby cylinder escapement, three-arm balance, parachute suspension
Case: 20k yellow gold eng൲ine-turned case by Tavernier, concentric circles radiating from the cen⛎tral engraved ducal coronet
Size: 42.2 mm diameter
Signed: case, dial, movement
Box: no
Papers: no
Accessories: Breguet Extract from the Archives confirming date of sale on 20 February 1805 to Général Junot
Général Jean-And𝔉oche Junot, Duke of Abrantes
Sotheby's Geneva, Masterworks of Time: Abraham Louis Breguet, Horologist Extraordinaire, 16 June 2020, Lot 32
Collection of a Gentleman
The Souscription watch series was created by Abraham Louis Breguet to aid the recovery of his business following the French Revolution. Clients would have to advance a quarter of the 600 Livres upon ordering the watch, which cꦕovered the cost of materials and labor. The clien🔯t would be required to pay the remainder of the balance once the watch is delivered.
The present lot is a rare example that was purchased by and made for Général Jean-Andoche Junot, the Duke🔜 of Abrantes. A significant figure in French history, Général Junot i🅰s remembered for being one of Napoleon’s closest associates as his aide-de-camp, and one of the Emperor’s most trusted generals.