Breguet & Fils a Paris Minute-Repeating Pocket Watch
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
1833
This 18K multicolored gold pocket watch, signed by Breguet & Fils a Paris, features a minute-repeating complication. Produced in Switzerland, the watch is cased for the English market and bears Chester hallmarks dated 1833.
The watch possesses a four-body bassine et filets case, with the pendant, bow, and bezels decorated in deeply chased shells, flowers, and scrolls, complemented by an engine-turned back. The dial, also in gold, features engine-turning, applied gold radial Roman numerals, and vari-colored gold foliate decoration. Mechanically, the watch is driven by a 43 mm frosted gilt, full-plate movement. It utilizes a fusée and chain transmission with a verge escapement.
Timekeeping is managed by a three-arm brass balance with a blued steel flat balance-spring and a pierced, chased continental balance cock. The minute-repeating function is activated via the pendant and operates on two blued steel gongs.
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
- Minute repeating pocket watch
- Maker
- Breguet & Fils a Paris
- Material
- 18K multicolored gold
- Hallmarks
- Chester 1833
- Case style
- Four-body bassine et filets
- Movement type
- Full-plate verge with fusée
- Place recorded
- Switzerland
- Dial decoration
- Engine-turned gold with foliate relief
- Maker / attribution
- Breguet & Fils a Paris
- Repeating mechanism
- Minute-repeating on two gongs
Design
- Dial and Hands
- The dial is composed of gold and maintains a cohesive aesthetic with the case through the use of engine-turning and multi-colored gold ornamentation. The chapter ring features applied gold radial Roman numerals set against the engine-turned surface. The central area of the dial is adorned with vari-colored gold foliate decoration, providing a decorative focal point. The time is indicated by a set of gold hands. These hands are positioned to align with the applied Roman numerals, maintaining the traditional legibility expected of the period's horological work while reinforcing the high-karat gold theme of the overall construction.
- Visible features
- • Case back features intricate engine-turned pattern • Pendant, bow and bezels are cast with floral and shell relief motifs • Dial center displays multi-colored gold foliate relief • Movement visible in background of photograph shows repeating train components
- Movement and Complication
- The movement measures 43 mm and is constructed as a frosted gilt, full-plate caliber. It employs a traditional fusée and chain power transmission system paired with a verge escapement. The oscillator consists of a three-arm brass balance wheel paired with a blued steel flat balance-spring, controlled by a pierced and chased balance cock in the continental style. The minute-repeating complication is a primary feature of this watch. It is engineered to sound the hours, quarter-hours, and minutes upon activation. The mechanism triggers two blued steel gongs housed within the case. The activation system is integrated into the pendant, allowing the user to initiate the repeating sequence by depressing it.
- Case Construction and Aesthetics
- The watch is housed in a four-body 'bassine et filets' case crafted from 18K multicolored gold. The exterior back of the case is engine-turned, providing a textured finish that contrasts with the high-relief decorative elements found elsewhere on the piece. The bezels, pendant, and bow are cast and finished with deep, intricate chasing that incorporates floral, shell, and scroll designs. The construction and assay of the case are tied to the English market, as evidenced by the Chester hallmarks indicating a date of 1833. The design elements of the case represent an integration of multi-colored gold applications, a decorative approach that extends to the dial surface, which features both engine-turning and applied gold foliate patterns.
Identification
- 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 source notes the movement requires an overhaul, though specific mechanical failures are not detailed.
- Research required: The exact nature of the relationship between the movement production and the Chester casing remains described only as 'cased for the English market'.