AN EXCEPTIONAL BREGUET ET FILS 18CT GOLD REPEATING PAIR CASED OPEN FACE POCKET WATCH
Paris, France, early 19th century

Made for the Ottoman market, the white enamel dial centred with an eight pointed star and with Ottoman numerals and a railroad minute track, with blued Breguet hands, signed 'Breguet et Fils' below the six, the minute repeating nouveau calibre movement with pare-chute shock protection and striking on two gongs, activated with a pull and twist piston in the pendant, decorated elaborately in enamel with gilt highlights, the inner case centred to the reverse with a scalloped octagonal cartouche depicting a painted landscape scene of the sun rising behind mountains over a lake, in the manner of and likely by Thomas Seguin, within a border of pale blue enamel with repeating gilt points, in a red guilloche enamel field with repeating gilt foliate sprays, surrounded by a pale blue banded border with further gilt foliate decoration, similarly bordered to the front, the outer case decorated in the same manner and centred with a scene depicting a tower by a river with mountains in the background, the outer borders front and verso with gilt and green highlights, together with a matching watch chain, comprising two woven link strands punctuated with elaborately decorated enamel junctions and terminating in a similarly decorated T-bar and a locket, signed to the interior 'Breguet No. 2947'.

Abraham-Louis Breguet became the leading watchmaker for the Ottoman elite in the early 19th century, thanks to his friendship with Ali Effendi, the Ottoman ambassador to France. Effendi was introduced to Breguet by the French diplomat Charles Maurice de Talleyrand-Périgord. After returning to Turkey in 1802, where he served as Minister of the Navy, Ali Effendi commissioned the highest quality repeating watch for Ottoman Emperor Selim III. In addition to the watches themselves, having a local representative was vital for Breguet’s success in the market. Following Effendi's suggestion in 1802, Breguet sent a French watchmaker named Leroy to Constantinople and appointed him as the company's local representative. By the 19th century, Ottoman orders had become a significant aspect of Breguet's business, with approximately 6-8 highly valuable pieces dispatched each year until 1820.

diameter 6.4cm; total weight approx. 290grs

For related examples on the subject see: Christies, Rare Watches, lot 56, 8th November 2021; the Topkapi Palace Museum, Istanbul; the Breguet Museum.

Provenance: Important Private Collection. Previously in the collection of Mr. Garabod Karakiahya.