Swiss grande/petite sonnerie striking clockwatch Circa 1925

Gold hunting cased trip minute repeating lever by Breguet
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An extremely fine and extremely rare, important Swiss 18 carat gold hunting cased grande and petite sonnerie striking keyless two train clockwatch with trip minute repeat and helical balance spring, circa 1925. Sold to Mr. Jean Dollfus on February 1, 1926 for 13,500 Francs. Frosted gilt movement, two trains with tandem winding, 33 jewels, counterpoised straight-line lever escapement, cut bimetallic compensation balance with gold temperature adjustment screws and platinum meantime adjustment screws, special alloy helical balance spring, index regulator, striking and repeating on gongs, the repeat activated by a trip slide on the band, grande sonnerie/petite sonnerie, silence/sonnerie selection levers under the bezel. Gold hinged cuvette. Gold dial, brushed chapter ring with radial Roman numerals, outer dot minute divisions, subsidiary seconds, engine turned centre and border, original gold spade hands. Large and heavy polished case. Dial and movement signed, case numbered. Accompanied by a certificate.
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Diameter: 60 mm
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Signed: Breguet
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The present watch is made in the greatest tradition of Breguet, it is of very high quality and in superb condition. Grande Sonnerie Striking, in which both the hours and the quarters are struck at each quarter. Petite Sonnerie Striking, in which ‘tingtang’ quarters are struck at the quarter hours, but in which the hour is only struck at the hour.
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Jean Dollfuss was an industrialist, he was an important client of Breguet in the first half of the 20th century. He and his brother Louis bought many fine watches from Breguet, including:
– a retrograde perpetual calendar pocket watch, No. 4420, 1921;
– an extra flat platinum dress watch, No. 4344, 1921;
– a spring detent centre seconds chronometer No. 472, 1924;
– a digital jumping hour dress watch No. 1285, 1926;
– a lever pocket chronometer, 1928, No. 1939;
– a split seconds pocket chronograph No. 2170, 1929;
– a unique example of a tonneau shaped white gold perpetual calendar wristwatch No. 2516, 1929;
– the present watch.