Ruby Cylinder by Breguet

A fine early 19th century, ruby cylinder escapement “Montre Simple” pocket watch, in a full hunting gold case, by Abraham-Louis Breguet.
Complete with certificate of authenticity produced by Breguet. All in very good condition.

MOVEMENT : With a ruby cylinder escapement, three arm gilt balance with parachute suspension, spiral steel spring with regulator and compensation curb.

Signed (Breguet) and numbered (206).

In good condition, and running well.

DIAL : Silver guilloche dial, with secret signature and number (206) either side of 12, and signed BREGUET at 6.

Blued steel Breguet hands.

The crystal is a later replacement, and has a centre aperture to allow setting of the hands.

All in good condition with just some light scuffs and minor scratches.

CASE : 18ct gold engine turned hunter case (No. 119).

Back and front covers numbered (B206 and S119), and case maker’s mark LS. Paris gold marks for 1819-1838 on the cover and cuvette.

Gold cuvette, signed (Breguet) and numbered (206), with access to the regulator.
The cuvette is fixed by a single blued screw.

Good overall condition, with all hinges and catches fine. Just some light scratches and a little wear to the edges of the engine turning.

The watch is accompanied by a gold Breguet type ratchet key, with a gold clip and a short gold and silver chain.
The ratchet is not functioning (an old solder repair) but otherwise the key is fine (winding and setting).

Breguet’s work was copied and faked probably more than any other watchmaker of the period. This watch is accompanied with a Breguet certificate (No. 4530), provided in 2020, which describes Watch No. 206 fully. It shows the original buyer and price.
This watch was sold at the 1991 Art of Breguet auction (Antiquorum, Geneva), when it was noted that it was originally sold to a Monsieur Rigaud in November, 1837, for 1500 Francs.

However, the watch appears to have been re-purchased by Breguet and resold to Monsieur Pierre Lalanne of Bayonne on 17 September, 1840 for 1500 Francs.
It was later bought once again by Breguet and sold to Henri Moser & Cie., who were at that time Breguet’s agent in Moscow.
A watch with an identical movement (No. 3884, sold in 1824) is illustrated in The Art of Breguet, by George Daniels.

Abraham-Louis Breguet was born in Neuchatel in Switzerland, in 1747 and moved to Paris in 1768. He died in 1823. He was by far the finest watchmaker of his time, an innovator and inventor as well as the maker of fine and beautiful watches.
This watch exhibits many of his inventions, including the parachute suspension and ruby cylinder escapement.