Breguet Montre de Souscription No. 2738
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
1815
Maker / issuer
BreguetThis Breguet No. 2738 is an 18K gold 'Montre de Souscription' pocket watch, originally sold to Leriche on November 8, 1815. The watch features a white enamel dial with characteristic Breguet numerals, an outer track with 2 1/2 minute divisions, and a secret signature below the 12 o'clock position.
The three-body, Empire-style case includes a glazed back. The movement is a 57 mm (25 ligne) frosted gilt souscription calibre with a central barrel that can be wound from either the front or the back. It incorporates an overhanging ruby cylinder escapement, a three-arm brass balance, a pare-chute system on the top pivot, a blued steel flat balance spring, and an index regulator fitted with a temperature compensation curb.
Both the dial and movement are signed and numbered. The total diameter of the watch is 60 mm.
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
- Montre de Souscription
- Maker
- Breguet
- Winding
- Front or back
- Sale Date
- November 8, 1815
- Escapement
- Ruby cylinder
- Case Diameter
- 60 mm
- Case Material
- 18K gold
- Dial Features
- Secret signature
- Movement Type
- Souscription calibre
- Maker / attribution
- Breguet
Design
- Case and Dial
- The case is notable for its glazed back, which allows for visibility of the internal frosted gilt movement. The white enamel dial displays standard Breguet numerals and a peripheral minute track marked with 2 1/2 minute divisions. The dial incorporates a secret signature positioned below the 12 o'clock numeral. The time is indicated by a single blued-steel hand, also in the Breguet style, consistent with the minimal aesthetic of this reference.
- Visible features
- • White enamel dial with Breguet numerals • Glazed back view of the internal movement • Single central blued-steel Breguet hand • Breguet et Fils signature on the dial
- Movement and Escapement
- The watch utilizes a 57 mm (25 ligne) frosted gilt souscription calibre. A defining technical feature of this movement is the central barrel, engineered to be wound from either the front or the back of the watch. The escapement is an overhanging ruby cylinder type, paired with a three-arm brass balance. Technical enhancements within the movement include a pare-chute anti-shock device fitted to the top balance pivot. Regulation is managed via an index regulator that incorporates a temperature compensation curb. The balance spring is a flat, blued-steel hairspring. Both the dial and the movement bear the maker's signature and the serial number 2738.
- Condition and Provenance
- Records indicate that this watch was originally sold to a client named Leriche in November 1815 for the price of 845 Francs. The auction description provides a formal grading for the individual components of the watch, noting the case as 'Fair' and mentioning that it is lacking certain elements. The dial is also assessed as 'Good,' despite noting that it shows minor signs of damage.
Identification
- Serial number
- 2738
- 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 auction description reports the case is 'Fair' and 'Lacking elements'
- Research required: The auction description reports the movement is 'Good' but states 'Overhaul recommended'
- Research required: The auction description reports the dial is 'Good' but 'Slightly damaged'