E. Buffat

AN EXTREMELY RARE AND INTERESTING GOLD TWO MINUTE TOURBILLON WATCH WITH DUPLEX ESCAPEMENT, THE MAIN WHEEL BRIDGE IN THE FORM OF AN 'N', THE NUMERALS SPELLING NAPOLEON III CIRCA 1855

• Movement: four-armed two minute tourbillon carriage with duplex escapement, requiring 4 vibrations of the balance per impulse to advance the carriage by one-second intervals, compensation balance, spiral spring with terminal curve, the disc of the carriage engraved overall with a floral design, the main plate of the watch engraved E. Buffat, Fec. & Inven. and with bees surrounding the crest, crown and sceptre of Napoleon III, " Alma and Inkermann" and "Exposition Universelle" are inscribed on the central bridge which is in the form of the letter N, to honor the monarch's victories
• Dial: white enamel, the hour markings spelling Napoleon III in blue and red enamel paint, the ten minute indications on the seconds dial similarly rendered and spelling La Glo[ir]e, outer red minute track
• Case: 18ct gold, the engine turned case back centred with engraved Imperial Coat of Arms, milled band, glazed cuvette with aperture for winding and hand-set, case maker's mark CAD incuse and numbered 56402 further scratch numbered 5379
• Accompaniments: fitted leather box, the lid with impressed gilt 'N' beneath a crown, the back of the box with a Patek Philippe label numbered 5379 and a retailer's name of Pleister of 31 Regent Street, London
diameter 51.5mm

Provenance:
Captain Peter Belin
Sotheby's London, The Belin Collection, 29 November 1979, lot 176
Christie's London, 9 June 1999, lot 343