Abraham-Louis Breguet Montre à Répétition sur les principes des chronomètres No. 396
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
circa 1818
According to the auction catalog, this 18-karat gold quarter-repeating pocket watch was manufactured by Abraham-Louis Breguet as a 'montre à répetition sur les principes des chronomètres' in 'Garde Temps' quality.
The source states it was originally sold in January 1818 to Hugues Wenham, repurchased and modernized by Breguet in October 1839 where it received movement number 396 and an enamel dial with a secret signature, and subsequently resold in October 1844 to the Count of Fersen. The 40 mm gold case features a quatre baguettes construction with repetition activated by a pull-twist piston through the pendant.
Evidence at a glance
- Linked sources
- 1
- Photograph views
- 1
- Catalogue references
- 0
Counts describe this entry’s documentation, not authenticity, rarity or completeness. Photographs may show one specimen; check each caption and licence.
Technical characteristics
- Type
- Quarter repeater pocket watch
- Dimensions
- 40 mm
- First Sale
- 23 January 1818
- Case Number
- B 2690
- Place recorded
- France
- Movement Number
- 396
- Maker / attribution
- Abraham-Louis Breguet
- Case Material and Design
- 18 K gold, quatre baguettes
- Escapement and Movement Details
- Early lever escapement, parachute shock protection, 1 hammer / 1 gong
Design
- Visible features
- • White enamel dial featuring black Roman numeral hour markers and an outer minute track. • Breguet-style open-tipped hands centered on the dial. • Dial signed 'BREGUET' in small lettering below the 6 o'clock position. • Polished gold case shown with an opened front bezel or hinged cover at the bottom. • Spherical pendant fitted with a circular suspension bow.
- Technical Specifications
- The movement is a bridge-style, keywind caliber featuring an early lever escapement, a single hammer and gong, and a compensation balance with gold and platinum screws. Additional technical components include a 'parachute' shock protection system and an 'unusual' going train equipped with an extra wheel.
- Case and Dial Construction
- The 18-karat gold case features a 'quatre baguettes' design with a guilloché pattern. The repeating function is activated by a pull-twist piston integrated through the pendant. The watch displays a white enamel dial with Roman numeral hour markers and an outer minute track. The dial is signed 'BREGUET' and contains a secret signature reading 'Breguet 396'. The watch is fitted with an open-tipped hand configuration, and the case design allows for an opened front bezel.
- Object Identity and Provenance
- This pocket watch is a quarter-repeater described as being manufactured as a 'montre à répetition sur les principes des chronomètres' in 'Garde Temps' quality by Abraham-Louis Breguet. The watch is associated with movement number 396 and case number B 2690, with a reported weight of 48 grams. According to the source, the timepiece was initially sold on January 23, 1818, to Hugues Wenham. The watch was later repurchased and modernized by Breguet on October 5, 1839, at which time it was assigned its current movement number and fitted with a new enamel dial. It was subsequently sold on October 26, 1844, to the Count of Fersen.
Identification
- Serial number
- 396
- Source note
- Facts transcribed from the linked source listing or collection record. Attribution and specifications are source-reported and have not been independently authenticated.
Catalogue references
No catalogue numbers recorded. Numbers are only published once transcribed from a verified edition of a standard catalogue — they are never inferred.
Research required
- Research required: The internal movement, case back decoration, and secret signature are not visible or resolvable in the provided single front photograph.
- Research required: Historical provenance details, repurchase timeline, and internal technical specifications are source-reported and not independently verifiable from the image.