- 360
Breguet
Description
A SMALL FINE AND RARE YELLOW GOLD CONVERTIBLE WATCH WITH DATE AND REGULATOR TO THE DIAL
SOLD ON OCTOBER 12, 1818, TO DUC DE BERWICK FOR 4,800 FRANCS, RETURNED TO BREGUET 20 YEARS LATER AND IMMEDIATELY SOLD TO ANTHONY DE ROTHSCHILD, NO 2791- yellow gold
Exhibited
Catalogue Note
This is an extremely rare example of such a small Breguet watch.
Fitz-James, Duke of Berwick (1776-1838) was the great-grandson of the renowned Maréchal de Berwick, illegitimate son of King Jacques II. Born in Versailles in 1776, he was named premier aide de camp and gentilhomme de la chambre to the Count d'Artois, brother of Louis XVI. He followed him to Lyon in 1815, in an attempt to stop the victorious march of Napoleon after his escape from Elba Island. After the second Restoration of the monarchy, he was made "Pair de France" by King Louis XVIII. The Duke of Berwick took an active part in the "Chambre des Pairs", defending the monarchy, but also fighting for freedom of the press and the right to free speech.
Anthony de Rothschild (1810-1876) was the second son of the famous banker Nathan Meyer de Rothschild. The Rothschild bank was active in supporting the Allies in their military campaign to defeat Napoleon.