Breguet (1747-1823)

Important study of Breguet watches by a passionate collector.

This volume is a comprehensive catalogue of one of the most important collection of Breguets owned by Sir David Lionel Salomons who later bequeathed it to the state of Israel. The detailed illustrations depict many different facets of watchmaking such as tourbillions, chronometers and pocket watches. Each watch has numerous photographs of the movement and the cases.

Breguet was considered to be the master of watchmaking and was founded by Abraham Louis Breguet in Paris in 1775. It is one of the oldest surviving watchmaking brands and a pioneer of numerous watchmaking technologies such as the tourbillon and the first self winding watch. This remarkable collection belonged to the passionate collector, Sir David Lionel Goldsmid-Stern-Salomons ( 1851-1925) a British scientific author, barrister and pioneer of road transport. He became the leading authority on Breguet and over the years he amassed the world's largest private collection of Breguet watches and clocks, which included 124 pieces. There are two watches considered to be the pinnacle of Breguet's art—the "Marie Antoinette" (No. 160) and the "Duc de Praslin" (No. 92). Both are included in this work. Other famous owners include Sir Winston Churchill, Queen Victoria and Napoleon.

Limited edition of 550 copies. 8vo (24 x 16 cm), profusely illustrated 330 black and white plates with silk tissues, new preliminary front and rear blanks, red silk endpapers, gilt decorated along the edges, binders stamp on front pastedown in gilt, gilt edges; beautifully bound in recent full red morocco gilt by Zaehnsdorf, pocket watch motif in gilt on upper cover, gilt lettered motif on lower cover, spine gilt lettered with raised bands; housed in modern red cloth slipcase; overall a very good copy. pp. x, 330pp.