Breguet et Fils

A FINE SILVER "GARDE-TEMPS" POCKET CHRONOMETER WITH SHORT CHAIN CIRCA 1823, NO.3878

• Movement: 23''' gilt-brass ¾ plate, the back plate partially cut away to accommodate the barrel, spring detent escapement, large two-arm Earnshaw type bi-metallic balance with moveable wedge-shaped weights and timing nuts, blued steel helical spring, ruby endstone, fusee and chain, cylindrical pillars, fusee pipe for winding square, gilt metal bayonet fitted cuvette, movement and cuvette signed and numbered Breguet et Fils Hor'gers de la Marine Royale, no.3878
• Dial: silver, Roman numerals, outer minute ring, large subsidiary seconds at 12 o'clock, blued steel moon hands, signed Breguet et Fils
• Case: silver, polished covers, gold hinges, large silver bow, case maker's mark LJ (Louis Joly), signed and numbered B, no.3878 additionally numbered 343
• Chain: with a short silver chain and key
diameter 59mm

Provenance:
Accompanied with a Breguet certificate dated 26 August 2019 recording the sale of No. 3878 to Monsieur Princepré on 29 August 1823 for 1,360 Francs.

In his book ‘The Art of Breguet’ (1975), Dr George Daniels notes that this type of Garde Temps pocket chronometer was produced to meet the demand for an “economically priced precision watch” (see op. cit. p.74). Owing much to the design of English deck watches, the movement has a fusee and Earnshaw-type spring detent escapement and balance with sliding weights. The decoration and layout concentrates on a utilitarian design that focuses first and foremost on the watch’s function as a highly accurate, portable timekeeper that could be easily transported from one place to another and was ideal for use on board a ship.

For a similar example see: Sotheby's Geneva 10th November 2015, lot 151 and Antiquorum Geneva, The Art of Breguet, 14 April 1991, lot 59