Breguet No. 3256 Ten-Minute Repeating Pocket Watch
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
1818
Maker / issuer
BreguetThis Breguet No. 3256 is an 18-karat gold ten-minute repeating pocket watch sold on November 19, 1818, to Combes Sieyes. The watch features a four-body "forme collier" case created by Tavernier, identified by number 2655, which includes a reeded band and an engine-turned back in an "à grains d'orge" pattern.
A concealed double cover was originally intended to hold a portrait miniature, which is currently absent. The silver engine-turned dial displays Roman numerals, an outer Arabic ten-minute ring, and an eccentric subsidiary seconds dial, signed "Breguet et Fils". The frosted, gilt bar-caliber movement is equipped with an overhanging ruby cylinder escapement, a parachute suspension, and a flat balance spring with bimetallic compensation.
The repeating mechanism operates on a gong via a pull-twist piston in the pendant. The watch has a diameter of 62 mm and is reported in very good condition.
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
- Ten-minute repeating pocket watch
- Maker
- Breguet
- Case Maker
- Tavernier
- Dimensions
- 62 mm
- Escapement
- Ruby cylinder
- Complication
- Ten-minute repeating
- Sales History
- Sold to Combes Sieyes in 1818
- Serial Number
- 3256
- Dial Signature
- Breguet et Fils
- Place recorded
- France
- Maker / attribution
- Breguet
Design
- Visible features
- • Silver engine-turned dial with gold Breguet hands • Frosted gilt movement with visible bridge structure • Pull-twist piston located in the pendant • Reeded pattern on the outer case band
- Case and Dial Design
- The watch is housed in an 18-karat gold four-body "forme collier" case attributed to the maker Tavernier, bearing the number 2655. The case construction includes a distinct reeded band and an engine-turned back featuring an "à grains d'orge" finish. An integrated concealed double cover, initially designed to protect a portrait miniature, remains part of the case assembly, though the miniature itself is reported as lacking. The silver dial is decorated with engine turning and displays Roman numerals for the hours. It includes an outer Arabic numeral ring for the ten-minute intervals and an eccentric subsidiary seconds dial. The dial is signed "Breguet et Fils" and incorporates gold Breguet-style hands to match the material of the case.
- Movement and Mechanics
- The movement is a frosted and gilt bar-caliber type. It utilizes an overhanging ruby cylinder escapement paired with a plain three-armed brass balance. Stability for the balance is provided by a parachute suspension system. Timing regulation is managed via a flat balance spring equipped with a bimetallic compensation curb. Functionally, the watch provides a ten-minute repeating complication. The mechanism strikes on a gong using a single hammer, activated by a pull-twist piston integrated into the pendant.
- Provenance and Authenticity
- The watch, identified as No. 3256, has an documented history of ownership. Records indicate it was previously cataloged under the number 1840. Before its sale to Combes Sieyes on November 19, 1818, for the price of 2700 Francs, it was bought back from the Comte de Los Rios. The gold cuvette is engraved with the signature "Breguet No. 3256," confirming its provenance. The auction description reports that the watch is in very good condition.
Identification
- Serial number
- 3256
- 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 portrait miniature in the concealed compartment is lacking
- Research required: Origin of manufacture is not explicitly stated in the provided text