This coming November, Sotheby's will pay tribute to the phenomenal legacy of Abraham-Louis Breguet (1747 – 1823), the most important and influential watchmaker in the history of watchmaking, with adedicated auction celebrating the 250th anniversary of the founding of Breguet in Paris in 1775. Organized in collaboration with Montres Breguet SA and Mr. Emmanuel Breguet, Vice-President, Head of Heritage and descendant of founder Abraham-Louis Breguet, the auction will highlight key chapters in the brand's long and illustrious history, offering a mix of pocket watches, wristwatches and watches.
The sale will take place as part of the Sotheby's Luxury Sales in Geneva
Abraham-Louis Breguet revolutionized watchmaking by solving long-standing horological challenges and introducing numerous critical innovations, otherwise known as watch complications. His pioneering innovations such as the “tourbillon” and the self-winding mechanism are still widely used and continue to influence contemporary watchmaking. Known as the “father of modern watchmaking” and as “the watchmaker of kings and the king of watchmakers” Breguet cultivated an unrivaled list of clients eager for his mechanical creations that took months and sometimes years to complete. Among his most notable patrons was Queen Marie Antoinette, who commissioned several watches from him. Breguet quickly became the watchmaker of choice for European royalty and elites, including Napoleon Bonaparte, King George III and the English Royal Family, and the Tsar of Russia, to name just a few, all seeking to acquire the finest timepieces available. The brand's reputation for exceptional craftsmanship has endured throughout its history.
One of the main lots for sale is the perpétuelle à tact watch
This extraordinary timepiece was made and owned by King George IV of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, also the King of Hanover, and features the King's monogram on the caseback. Other highlights will include a superb open-face Breguet watch with youct with calendar and moon phases that inspired the reference 3330. Also included in the sale will be an important pendulum with alarm, perpetual calendar and repeater as well as an open-face tourbillon watch in two-tone gold.
