Auction - Back to the roots for the Breguet No. 4691
The Breguet pocket watch No. 4691 of the great collector Sir Richard Wallace soared above estimate (CHF 600,000 - 1,000,000 / $650,00 0 - 1,080, 000) and was sold to the Breguet Museum for CHF 1,025,000.
Commenting on the results, Geoffroy Ader, Head of Sotheby's Watch Department in Europe said: "2013 markes the 190th anniversary of Abraham-Louis Breguet's death (1747-1823). We are therefore extremely pleased that the Breguet Museum acquired this masterpiece of watchmaking which not only celebrates the genius of Breguet, the father of modern watchmaking but is also a testament to the eye of a great collector: Sir Richard Wallace. Today's b results and sale-through rates (84% by lot and 94.7 % by value) underline the depth of the international watch market and the ever - growing demand for timepieces of the highest quality and rarity".
The Breguet No. 4691 - an extra flat pair cased gold half quarter repeating pocket watch - was bought from Breguet by Lord Henry Seymour Conway in Paris in 1831 and thereafter bequeathed to his brother Richard Seymour Conway, 4th Marquis of Hertford and then to Sir Richard Wallace (1818-1890), his illegitimate son. Sir Richard Wallace who inherited his father's for tune and immense art collection is widely known for the eponymous 'Wallace Collection' in London. This remarkable timepiece came directly from the descendants of Sir Richard Wallace who reportedly wore this watch until his death.
Reflecting the constant search for innovation that has characterise d Breguet's production since the 18th century, this watch boasts an exceptionally large number of complications for a watch of this time, including equation of time complication, power reserve indication, calendar and moon phase based on chronometer principles. Only three watches of this period by Breguet are known to pertain to such a specific complication type and design: one is part of the collection of L.A. Mayer Museum for Islamic Art in Jerusalem; the other once belonged to Saïd Pacha the Viceroy of Egypt and was passed on to his successor Ismaïl Pacha. With their highly complex movements contained within an extra slim case, these impressive watches count among the most expensive timepieces created by the celebrated French watch maker .
Exclusive vintage and modern wristwatches as well as rare complicated timepieces also generated enthusiasm among collectors from around the world at Sotheby's auctions. b prices were achieved by rare timepieces signed by Patek Philippe, Rolex, Blancpain, F.P. Journe and Parmigiani. Modern wristwatches performed extremely well. The offering included a unique version of the Big Pilot's Watch Perpetual Calendar Edition "Le Petit Prince" (ref. IW502801) in platinum with a mid - night blue dial by IWC which surpassed the pre-sale expectation, selling for CHF173,000 ($ 187,843 ). The sale coincided with the 70 th anniversary of the first publication of "The Little Prince" -Antoine de Saint - Exupery's bestselling novel . All the proceeds will benefit Antoine de Saint - Exupery Youth Foundation and contribute to the construction of a school in Cambodia.
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