Lot 79

Sign. Breguet & Fils, Case No. 91 K18989, 62 mm, 144 g, circa 1820
A gentleman's rare quarter repeating pocket watch with musical movement
Case: 18k gold, engine-turned, decorated band, case maker's punch mark "AH", slide for activating the musical movement. Dial: enamel, Breguet numerals, signed, blued Breguet hands. Movm.: bridge movement, keywind, frosted, gilt, 2 hammers / 2 gongs, 2 going barrels, sur plateau musical movement, cylinder escapement, three-arm ring balance.
Forgeries of A. L. Breguet watches
Breguet was the best and the most renowned watchmaker of his time. He was also a most sought-after victim of counterfeiting, which made him create a secret signature to distinguish his authentic works from the forgeries. A large number of counterfeit watches with Breguet's forged signature were produced during his life time and even after his death. Most of these watches were of poor quality or not even of a type ever produced by Breguet. Fakes often appear to be of genuine Breguet origin; but to the eyes of a connoisseur, the quality and technical details make the forgery glaringly obvious. However, this is an exceptionally rare watch of very high quality even if it was not made by Breguet.

Sold