98th Auction

2018/11/10

Lot 218

Breguet à Paris, Movement No. 396, Case No. B 2690, 39 mm, 48 g, circa 1844
An important, extremely rare quarter repeating pocket watch with early lever escapement, manufactured in best movement quality "Garde Temps" - sold on November 26, 1844 for the sum of 3500 francs to the Duke of Fersen - with Breguet certificate no. 4327
Case: 18k gold. Dial: enamel, secret signature "Breguet 396". Movm.: bridge movement, keywind, 1 hammer / 1 gong, unusual going train, extra wheel & pinion and train count, shock protection-"parachute", compensation balance with gold and platinum screws and weights.
The watch was first sold in the 1820 and later repurchased and updated by Breguet. During the remodeling the watch was fitted with a new dial with a secret signature and in 1844 it was sold again to Count von Fersen. This kind of sale/resale after modernisation was standard practise for Breguet and proof of the high regard the quality of their watches were held in.
The name Fersen stands for an ancient noble house that was originally of Lower Saxony, with branches that still exist today. In the 13th century the family settled in Pomerania, then in Estonia in the 16th century; later the family was also well-respected in Prussia, Sweden and Russia.
Count Axel von Fersen was born in 1798, the son of Count Fabian Reinhold von Fersen and the nephew of Axel von Fersen the younger, (1755-1810), who was the closest of companions to Marie Antoinette. From 1821 to 1823 he was adjutant to the King Karl Johan XVI, and then appointed a major in the army. He was a great admirer of the English life-style and was the first Swede to build a racecourse and to import thoroughbred horses. Count Fersen died in Pisa, unmarried and without any heir to follow.

estimated
25.00035.000 €
Price realized
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