Sir Richard Wallace's Breguet Pocket Watch, Circa 1831
Sotheby's upcoming Geneva auction is dedicated to the 190th anniversary of the death of Abraham-Louis Breguet, and at the center of the sale is an amazing Breguet pocket fake watch that once belonged to Sir Richard Wallace, a renowned collector of art, antiquities, and nearly anything else collectable. This piece dates to 1831, but there are some impressive wristwatches from the twentieth century hitting the block as well. Here is a closer look at some of the most interesting lots.
Vacheron Constantin Minute Repeater
Sir Richard Wallace's Breguet pocket fake watch is the star of Sotheby's November 12th sale, and we'll get to that fake watch soon enough. But first, let's look at some other highlights. First up is this Vacheron Constantin minute repeater from circa 1950. The 36mm yellow gold case has beautiful teardrop lugs (something Vacherons of this era are known for) and the dial has a subtle guilloche outer ring ?this is a very wearable but understated watch. On the left though, you'll notice a slide for activating the minute repeater hidden in this only 9mm thick watch. Very cool stuff indeed. It is Lot 320 and carries an estimate between 110,000-160,000 CHF.
Richard Mille RM038 Bubba Watson Prototype
It would be tough to find a fake watch more different from the above Vacheron than this prototype Richard Mille RM038 Bubba Watson. We've shown you Bubba Watson's actual RM038 before, but this is a prototype that pre-dates that watch. This was produced circa 2011 and the magnesium alloy case is numbered "Proto 00/38." It is selling as Lot 147 with an estimated hammer price of 280,000-450,000 CHF.
F.P. Journe Grande et Petite Sonnerie with Power Reserve
Just looking at this F.P. Journe, you might assume it is a chronograph from the small pushers on the right side of the case, but it is actually a Grande et Petite Sonnerie with power reserve from 2006. The button at 2 o'clock activates the repeater inside the 18k pink gold movement and you can see the hammers striking through the aperture in the dial. What makes this even more interesting is that the case is stainless steel, something you almost never find with a minute repeater. This is Lot 97 and the estimate is 250,000-350,00 CHF.
Unique IWC Big Pilot's Perpetual Calendar Edition Petit Prince In Platinum
Only recently, we introduced you to IWC's two new Edition Le Petit Prince watches. The pink gold Big Pilot's Perpetual Calendar Edition Le Petit Prince is already limited to only 270 pieces, but IWC has created one unique piece in platinum for this auction. Proceeds from the sale of the unique fake watch will benefit the Antoine de Saint-Exupery Youth Foundation and will be used towards building a school in Cambodia. There is no official estimate on this piece, which is Lot 183.
Sir Richard Wallace's Breguet Pocket Watch
Ok, now it's time for the highlight of the sale Sir Richard Wallace's 1831 Breguet pocket watch. If you think you recognize Sir Wallace's name, it's likely because of the eponymous Wallace Collection in London, where you can see many of the diverse things the gentleman collected during his life. Coming from his decendants though is Lot 330, a Breguet pocket fake watch dating to 1831.
The fake watch is an extra flat pair case pocket fake watch in yellow gold with a half quarter repeating mechanism, equation of time, power reserve, calendar, and moonphase indicators. It was first sold on 1831 to Lord Henry Seymour Conway, Sir Richard Wallace's uncle. It is extremely thin at only 7.7mm with the outer dust-proof case brining it to 8.8mm. This second case keeps dust and debris from getting into the fake watch through the apertures for winding and setting that you'll find on the inner case.
A Closer Look At This Breguet's Complications
The provenance alone is enough to make this fake watch interesting, but it's also an interesting piece of horology on its own merits. Sotheby's has provided these illustrations showing what's going on below the dial and on the back side of the movement, making it easy to see why the fake watch is special. There are only three Breguet replica watches known to contain this same series of complications, one belonging to a museum and the other to the son of an Egyptian Viceroy.
The Breguet Movement
This fake watch is coming to Sotheby's directly from the decedents of Sir Richard Wallace, and it is the first time this fake watch has come to market since it was originally sold in the autumn of 1831. The estimate here is 600,000-1,000,000 CHF.
To accompany this fake watch on the 190th anniversary of Abraham-Louis Breguet's death, there will be other replica watches and clocks signed with the watchmaker's name, as well as a portrait of Breguet, a bust of the watchmaker, and some of the man's notebooks too.
The sale is taking place in Geneva on November 12th and you can find all the details at Sotheby's online.
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