Small French gold quarter repeating keyless pocket watch Circa 1883

Gold Lady’s lever watch by Breguet
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A French lady’s gold quarter repeating keyless lever watch in late 18th-century style, circa 1883. Sold to La Princesse Galitzine on January 9, 1892, for 1400 francs. This small watch features a 13”’ gilded movement with a lever escapement, wolf’s tooth winding, jewelled centre, bimetallic compensation balance, and two polished steel hammers repeating on coiled gongs. The dial is white enamel with Roman numerals, an outer Arabic minute ring, and gold Louis XV-style hands. The 18k gold Louis XV style case includes a repeating slide to the band, an Olivette for hand setting to the left of the pendant, and a polished gold cuvette signed and numbered Breguet, no. 4456. The case back is engraved with a crown, numbered inside 12813, and bears the French import mark for 1838–1893. It comes with a Breguet certificate dated August 31, 2020, confirming production in 1883 and sale to Princess Galitzine on January 9, 1892.
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Diameter: 36.5 mm
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Signed: Breguet
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The movement seems to have a broken mainspring, causing the watch to not wind properly. However, the escapement moves freely when a small amount of power is given to the train. The surfaces are generally in good condition. The dial is in good condition, with a small residue between 6 and 7 o’clock. The case has light scuffs.
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Breguet had a successful career supplying timepieces to royal and aristocratic patrons throughout Europe. After being introduced to Prince Galitzine, the son of General-Lieutenant Prince Mikhail Mikhailovitch Galitzine and Baroness Anna Alexandrovna Stroganov, he developed a long and profitable relationship with the Russian ruling family. This secured an imperial warrant as a watchmaker for the tsar and the navy. Breguet was then named watch-maker of kings and the king of watch-makers and was featured in Russian literature. Pushkin and Kuprin noted the company’s prestigious history as well as the refinement and technical qualities of its products. After the death of Abraham-Louis, the Breguet firm continued to enjoy the patronage of the House of Galitzine, as the present watch demonstrates.