French gold quarter repeater by Breguet et Fils Circa 1810
- Kenmerk
- FB0341
- Diameter
- 53 mm
- Estimate
- € 12.500 - 25.000
- Price sold
- € 14.800
Gold pocket watch of with cylinder escapement by Breguet et Fils
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A pfine gold French Lépine key wind quarter repeating open faced pocket watch with certificate, circa 1810. Gilt movement with cylinder escapement, three arm balance, parachute protection for balance, two polished hammers striking on a gong.
Silvered dial with hobnail engine turned centre, brushed chapter ring with black Roman numerals, outer minute divisions, blued steel typical Breguet moon hands.
Engine turned round case with reeded band, repeating activated by a pull-and-twist piston in the pendant. Dial and cuvette signed.
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Diameter: 53 mm
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Signed: Breguet et Fils
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Including Breguet Certificate.
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This Breguet watch contains many of the typical enhancements to Horology that Breguet pioneered and have been adopted (in some fashion) in watchmaking to this day. The famous Parachute spring system to protect the balance (shock resist systems) and the bimetallic curve for accurate temperature compensation (compensation balances).
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Breguet used the cylinder escapement throughout his life. Like the virgule, it is a frictional rest escapement but of a far superior kind. In reality, the cylinder escapement as made by the English makers was not much better than the verge. This was because the diameter of the cylinder was too great in relation to the diameter of the balance, causing a loss of energy through friction. To reduce the friction, the English makers, who were very skilled in the art of jeweling, made the cylinder half-section ruby. The ruby was fitted into a steel frame – it was this form of cylinder escapement first used by Breguet. By about 1795 Breguet had developed the ruby cylinder to the very familiar “overhanging” ruby cylinder; it is therefore rare to find this escapement at such a late date. These escapements performed so well and with such increased consistency of rate that temperature errors were previously swamped by general bad.
Signed: Breguet et Fils
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