Rare French 18 carat rose gold detent chronometer Circa 1881

Rose gold detent pocket chronometer
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A very fine and rare French 18 carat rose gold pocket chronometer with a special winding disengagement feature, circa 1881. This timepiece was completed on 24 August 1881 and sold to Monsieur Pigache on 7 April 1885, for the sum of 1800 Francs. Frosted gilt ¾ plate movement, an ébauche by Louis Audemars, 17 jewels in screwed chatons, fusee with maintaining power, the key less work automatically disconnected when fully wound and re engaged by a bolt in the band, a footed spring detent escapement with two arm compensation balance, blued steel helical balance spring with terminal curves and index regulator. Hinged gold cuvette. White enamel dial with Roman hours, outer minute divisions, sunk subsidiary seconds at 6 o’clock and blued steel spade hands. A heavy polished case with a bolt at 11 o’clock for re engaging the winding.
Dial signed and numbered, case numbered. Accompanied by an Extract from the Archives.
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Diameter: 53 mm
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Signed: Breguet
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The movement of this watch is constructed using the elegant footed spring detent escapement rather than the pivoted detent found in most Swiss chronometer watches. According to the Breguet archives this watch was bought back from Monsieur Pigache on 26 August 1918 for 500 Francs. Resold to Monsieur Jean Dollfus on 12 July 1922 for 5.000 Francs. Bought back on February 1928 for 6.000 Francs and resold to Monsieur L. Harrison Dulles on 13 April 1928 for 6.000 Francs.