Large Gold Musical & Repeating Clockwatch
Stock No. 2010
Breguet & Fils
Paris, c1820
Gold case, 57 mm.
Cylinder escapement, quarter repeat, music on the hour
Sold
An early 19th century watch, quarter repeating, with cylinder escapement, playing music on the hour. All in a large heavy gold case.
MOVEMENT : A fine quality gilt movement with cylinder escapement, and quarter repeating with two polished steel hammers striking two steel gongs.
Music can be played automatically on the hour, or on demand. This is achieved by 25 individually screwed polished steel tines activated by a large moving pinned disk.
The quarter repeating function is activated by pushing down. The stem, striking once for each hour and then twice for each quarter.
There are 3 slides on the case band, which control the repeat and music.
The slide on the band at 11 enables or locks the repeat.
The slide at 12 enables the music on the hour (slide to the right) or disables (to the left). If enabled, then the music disk plays with one rotation.
The slide on the band at 1 allows the music to be played on demand. Sliding down starts the music. Sliding up stops but only after a complete rotation of the disk.
The movement is in good condition, and is running well with repeat and music functions all working correctly.
DIAL : A gold dial with engine turned engraving to the centre, and polished gold numerals.
The dial is in good condition, with just a few light marks.
Blued steel hands.
CASE : The heavy rose gold case has engine turning to the back, and milled bezel and band. The inside of the cover is stamped with a case number 11366 and K18 for18 carat. There is also a case maker’s mark FLB.
The inner gilt cuvette is signed :
Breguet & Fils
A PARIS N. 1088
The case is in good condition. All hinges are good and both covers and cuvette all close correctly. The engine turning is still crisp and the crystal is fine.
The Breguet signature was used by French and Swiss watchmakers at this time, even for watches of this high quality. But this does not indicate that the watch is by the Breguet firm, and this watch may have been made in France or Switzerland.