Live Auction 1372Important Watches Including A CONNOISSEUR'S VISION PART II
Christie’s roundel
Lot 37

Breguet. A very fine and rare 18K gold ruby cylinder "montre à tact"

SIGNED BREGUET, NO. 1269, CASE NOS. 1269 B AND 2253, SOLD TO MONSIEUR LANDABURU IN 1804

Closed10 May 2010

Price Realised

CHF 27,500

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Breguet. A very fine and rare 18K gold ruby cylinder "montre à tact"
Signed Breguet, No. 1269, case nos. 1269 B and 2253, sold to Monsieur Landaburu in 1804
Gilt-finished ruby cylinder movement with central going barrel, plain three arm brass balance with parachute on the top pivot, blued steel flat balance spring with bimetallic compensation curb on the regulator, gold cuvette, engine-turned gilt dial, Roman numerals on blank chapter ring, single blued steel Breguet hand, the minutes indicated on small central minute dial with inlaid black enamel inscription Landaburu, engine-turned circular case, case numbered B 1269 and 2253 and stamped P.B.T. for Pierre Benjamin Tavernier, cuvette and movement signed and numbered 1269
42.5 mm. diam.

Specialist note

According to the Archives of Montres Breguet, the present watch, a small "montre à tact" with case no. 2253 by Tavernier, was sold on 24 Germinal an 12 (1804) for the amount of 1,320 Francs to Monsieur Landaburu, the name of the client marked on the dial.

This watch is a rather atypical example of a "tactful" watch. Although entered as a "petite montre à tact" in the registers of Breguet, it is omitting any of the touch pieces normally found on the cases of the celebrated model.

Preserved in excellent, original overall condition, the watch is furthermore distinguished by its customized dial featuring the name of its first owner, confirmed by the Archives of Montres Breguet.

Landaburu is a typical family name from the Basque Country.