French 18K gold quarter repeating cylinder watch Circa 1817

Gold open faced pocket watch by A.-L. Breguet et fils
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An exquisite French 18 carat gold open faced quarter repeating cylinder pocket watch, circa 1817. Sold on October 29th, 1817 for the sum of 1500 francs to Monsieur Pierss. Bridge movement, ruby cylinder escapement, two hammers, two gongs, three arm brass balance, temperature compensated balance spring. Silver, engine-turned dial with Roman hours and outer minute dots. The case back is engine turned by Tavernier, plain bezels, case maker’s mark MB.
Dial signed, case numbered, cuvette signed and numbered. Comes with an 18 carat gold watch chain.
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Diameter: 50 mm
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Weight: 99 g.
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Weight chain: 54 g.
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Signed: Breguet et Fils
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Abraham-Louis Breguet was born in Neuchâtel, Switzerland in 1747 and died in 1823 at the age of 77. At age 15, he left for Paris where he studied various disciplines, mathematics, astrology, horology, etc. He began his watchmaking career by marrying a wealthy heiress and establishing his first watch factory in Paris. He hired the most skilled and renowned horologers and master watchmakers. They realized his brilliant and innovative ideas. In 1786, he moved to London and set up a workshop where high-quality pocket watches and chronometers were manufactured. In 1789, he returned to Paris, where he remained until 1793 when he fled for political reasons. With the arrival of Louis XVIII, he became in charge of the ‘Centre Horloger de Versailles’ and was appointed ‘Horloger de la Marine’, he further entered the Academy of Sciences, and the King personally imposes on him the ‘Legion of Honour’. His innovations and improvements shocked the already existing watchmaking industry.