Live Auction 1398Important Watches
Breguet No. 1584 "Montre simple à une aiguille dite montre de Souscription". A fine and rare silver and 18K pink gold "Souscription" watch
Lot 234 THE PROPERTY OF A EUROPEAN PRIVATE COLLECTOR

Breguet No. 1584 "Montre simple à une aiguille dite montre de Souscription". A fine and rare silver and 18K pink gold "Souscription" watch

SIGNED BREGUET, NO. 1584, SOLD ON 18 PRAIRIAL AN 3 (7 JUNE 1805) TO MONSIEUR ROMARINO FOR THE SUM OF 600 FRANCS

Closed11 November 2013

Price Realised

CHF 27,500

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Breguet No. 1584 "Montre simple à une aiguille dite montre de Souscription". A fine and rare silver and 18K pink gold "Souscription" watch
Signed Breguet, No. 1584, sold on 18 Prairial An 3 (7 June 1805) to Monsieur Romarino for the sum of 600 francs
Gilded brass ruby cylinder movement with central going barrel, plain three arm brass balance, pare-chute suspension on the pivot, blued steel flat balance spring with bimetallic compensation curb on the regulator, white enamel dial, secret signature, Breguet numerals, single blued steel Breguet hand, large plain silver case with pink gold rims and pink gold bow, case no. 1584 by Jean-Louis Joly, dial signed Breguet et Fils and with secret signature below 12 o'clock, movement signed Breguet and numbered 1584
61 mm. diam.

Specialist note

According to the Archives of Montres Breguet, the present watch was sold on 18 Prairial An 13 (7 June 1805), last year of the Republican calendar, to Monsieur Romarino for the sum of 600 Francs.

The unique idea of the Souscription watch was first conceived by Abraham Louis Breguet in 1794 during the French Revolution as a method to remain financially stable. A buyer could do a down payment of 25 Francs for a watch of a limited series, with the balance due upon delivery. In this manner, Breguet watches became more accessible and the payments in advance helped finance the development of other projects.

Amongst Breguet's signature pieces, "Souscription" watches are characterized by their sober, yet elegant design and the single hand indication simultaneously hours and minutes.