Bréguet's "Montres de Carrosse"

[Pierre Tavlitzki]

The name "montre de carrosse" (carriage clock) applies to a pendulette especially designed for use while traveling. Abraham-Louis Bréguet started a model in 1812, to be proposed to his royal customers. Bréguet carriage clocks were manufactured until 1828.

The queen of Naples, Caroline Bonaparte Murat, was a diligent and demanding customer of Bréguet. Christie's auctions in Geneva on May 11 a copy which was made specially for her and sold to her as early as March 18, 1812.

15.8 cm high, it includes many complications, including day, month, year, day of the week and the phases of the moon, and an alarm. It is presented in its travel case and with its original key.

For this royal silver clock which never left the family, the estimate is 240 KCHF.

[Pierre Tavlitzki]

The watch market is going very well. Three exceptional results have been achieved in this sale. I include the premium in the figures, as always for this auction house.

The price of the carriage clock seemed attractive to me. Of course! The market has confirmed its historical value, up to 720 KCHF.

I had previewed a Patek Philippe watch, without devoting a specific article. This 1936 oversized prototype was sold 1.89 MCHF on an estimate of 300 KCHF.

More accustomed to these high prices, a 2499 Patek Philippe watch was sold 1.93 MCHF on an estimate of 1 MCHF. This estimate somewhat too conservative for this model had not prompted me to discuss it (there was already an article about this reference in this group).

We can not be more optimistic in these times that continue to be difficult in other sectors of the art market. Watchmaking of top range is a great value.