French rare pocket chronometer with regulator Circa 1809 

Rare silver pocket chronometer with regulator with spring detent escapement
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A rare silver open-faced pocket chronometer with regulator with spring detent escapement, circa 1809, gilt brass early garde-tempscalibre, spring detent escapement, three-arm compensation balance with parachute on both pivots, blued steel helical balance spring with terminal curves, signed and numbered cuvette.
White regulator type dial, No 10, eccentric hour ring with Breguet numerals, outer track calibrated for minute, subsidiary dial for constant seconds, silver case stamped GM, with wooden fitted presentation case.
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Diameter: 59 mm
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Signed: Breguet et Fils

This watch was sold to M. Varhuel on 28 February 1809 for 1200 Francs, then returned on 20 May 1811 and resold on 20 July 1818 to an Englishman travelling through the interior of Africa for 1000 Francs.

The Englishman cited on the certificate is likely to have been Dr. Joseph Ritchie, who on the same day purchased a Breguet six-minute tourbillon with Peto Cross detent escapement, No. 2520. The certificate for No. 2520 also lists the buyer of record as an Englishman travelling through the interior of Africa. For more information on this piece, see Sotheby’s New York, Property of the Estate of Esmond Bradley Martin, October 2002.