French 20K gold quarter repeating à toc watch Circa 1809

Gold watch with ruby cylinder escapement
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A very fine and rare, 20K gold French quarter repeating à toc pocket watch with ruby cylinder escapement, circa 1809. Sold to Monsieur Hemoc for Monsieur de Bourienne on November 15, 1809, for 2,000 francs. An engine-turned with polished bezel and border. gold cuvette. White enamel dial by Borel with Breguet numerals and outer minute track, secret signature below 12. Blued steel Breguet hands.

A gilt movement, standing barrel, jewelled train, overhanging ruby cylinder escapement, plain three-arm balance with parachute on the top pivot, blued steel flat balance spring, index regulator with bimetallic temperature compensation curb, all or nothing repeating with a single hammer on a block on the case activated by depressing the pendant. Dial and cuvette signed.
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Diameter: 55 mm
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Signed: Breguet  Paris
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Louis Antoine Fauvelet de Bourienne (1769-1834) was a French diplomat who served as Napoleon Bonaparte’s private secretary during his Egyptian campaign. He had been educated at the military school of Brienne along with Napoleon, and wrote his memoirs, recounting his experiences with Bonaparte. Bourienne served as Ministre Plénipotentiaire in Hamburg during the period in which he purchased this watch.