Two Vintage Timepieces Return To Breguet Historic Collection
At the Christie’s auction held earlier this month Marc A. Hayek, President and CEO of Breguet, acquired two historic timepieces previously produced by the brand. The first watch is the Breguet No. 4039, a half quarter repeating watch, and the second is the Breguet Tourbillon No. 1176. No. 4039 was originally sold to the Duke […]
At the Christie’s auction held earlier this month Marc A. Hayek, President and CEO of Breguet, acquired two historic timepieces previously produced by the brand. The first watch is the Breguet No. 4039, a half quarter repeating watch, and the second is the Breguet Tourbillon No. 1176.
No. 4039 was originally sold to the Duke of Berwick in 1825, and went to Hayek for CHF70,000. It is one of Breguet’s extra slim repeating timepieces made on the principles of chronometers (sur les principles des chronomètres), and also features a date function. Needless to say, the 18K gold and silver pocket watch comes with the famous Breguet hands adorning the engine-turned silver dial. Hayek’s second acquisition is quite a bit more interesting and, at CHF680,000, significantly more expensive. No. 1176 is the third tourbillon that Abraham-Louis Breguet ever made, and his first 4-minute tourbillon. The watch belonged to Count Potocki, a prominent Polish figure in the Age of Enlightenment. The watch’s 35-hour power reserve indicator is at six o’clock, with separate dials for the hour, minute and second sub-dials above it. The watch also features an ‘échappement naturel’ of Breguet’s design.
With these acquisitions totalling CHF750,000, Hayek has once again demonstrated his commitment to preserving the manufacture’s historic and cultural heritage.