Important Watches I
Important Watches I
Breguet
Breguet Sympathique, No 2 Sold to Tiffany & Co. | A gilt bronze astronomical annual calendar clock with phases and age of the moon, equation of time, centigrade thermometer with 8 days power reserve indication and 5-seconds remontoire winding spring detent chronometer escapement and matching yellow gold tourbillon wristwatch with power reserve indication and mechanism for instantaneous re-setting and correction with the masterpiece clock, Circa 1996 | 寶璣 | BREGUET SYMPATHIQUE 編號 2 售予 TIFFANY & CO. | 鍍金銅製天文年曆座鐘，備月相、時間等式、溫度計、8天動力儲備顯示、5秒恆定動力衝擊式擒縱結構及黃金陀飛輪腕錶，備動力儲備顯示及與座鐘瞬間同步時間裝置，約1996年製
Auction Closed
October 7, 06:41 AM GMT
Estimate
1,800,000 - 3,600,000 HKD
Lot Details
Description
Breguet
Breguet Sympathique, No 2 Sold to Tiffany & Co.
A gilt bronze astronomical annual calendar clock with phases and age of the moon, equation of time, centigrade thermometer with 8 days power reserve indication and 5-seconds remontoire winding spring detent chronometer escapement and matching yellow gold tourbillon wristwatch with power reserve indication and mechanism for instantaneous re-setting and correction with the masterpiece clock, Circa 1996
寶璣
BREGUET SYMPATHIQUE 編號 2 售予 TIFFANY & CO.
鍍金銅製天文年曆座鐘，備月相、時間等式、溫度計、8天動力儲備顯示、5秒恆定動力衝擊式擒縱結構及黃金陀飛輪腕錶，備動力儲備顯示及與座鐘瞬間同步時間裝置，約1996年製
Clock
Dial: gilt engine turned mask with eccentric silver dial
Movement number: 2B
Case: gilt bronze
Case number: 2
Size: 255 x 170 x 125 mm
Signed: case, dial and movement
Accessories: Breguet Duplicata Certificate signed by Nicolas G. Hayek, dated September 2008 and confirming this is the first of a limited edition of 19 pieces, instruction documents and original morocco fitted box with draw containing magnifying glass, screwdriver and key, with shipping case
附帶證書副本、説明書、放大鏡、工具及盒子
Wristwatch
Dial: silvered
Calibre: mechanical, jewelled
Movement number: 2
Case: 18k yellow gold, snap on case back
Case number: 2
Closure: black Breguet alligator strap and unsigned pin buckle
Size: 36 mm diameter
Signed: case, dial and movement
Accessories: none
The present clock is based on a very special piece produced by Breguet for the son of the French king, Ferdinand-Philippe, Duc d’Orléans in 1836 for his residence in the Pavillon de Marsan in Paris. The clock featured one of Abraham-Louis Breguet’s most significant inventions, the Sympatique, which he had developed during his exile in Switzerland in 1795. In a letter to his son, he described the functioning of his invention:
"I have great pleasure my friend, in telling you that I have made a very important invention, but about which you must be very discreet, even about the idea. I have invented a means of setting a watch to time, and regulating it, without anyone having to do it...Then every night on going to bed, you can put the watch into the clock. It is not even necessary to open the watch. I expect from this, the greatest promotion of our fame and fortune."
Breguet’s ground-breaking innovation was well received by many other royal families across Europe and examples of the Sympatique can be found in extraordinary collections including those of the Royal Palace in Madrid or The British Museum, even though only a very reduced number of these were produced given the time needed to construct such delicate pieces, which sometimes could take up to 20 years to complete. The magnificent clock made for the Duc d’Orléans was offered at Sotheby’s Important Watches sale in New York, celebrated on 4 December 2012, fetching an impressive $6,802,500 selling price.
Building upon its rich heritage, unique savoir faire, and the Duc d’Orléans clock in particular, Breguet produced a limited series of 19 pieces in 1996, the first one of which, numbered 2 and sold to Tiffany &Co in New York as indicated by the accompanying duplicate of the certificate, we are proud to offer. The Sympatique Masterpiece comes accompanied by its wristwatch cased in yellow gold and featuring another one of Breguet’s most influential contributions to the world of horology, the tourbillon.
The present lot not only stands as the embodiment of Breguet’s breathtaking horological expertise and legacy, but also provides an extremely rare opportunity to acquire an example of this very limited edition that will inevitably become the star of any horological collection.