Breguet Empire 35mm

Dealer description — Oliver & Clarke

Parisian manufacturer Breguet, named after its founder, Abraham-Louis Breguet, was founded in 1775 and is one of the most stored and historically significant manufacturers in the world of horology. With a number of firsts, including *ahem* what many consider to be the first known wristwatch, Breguet is primarily known today for its stunning silver 'guilloche' dials, innovations in complications, and outstanding build quality. The 35mm dress watch that we have here is something incredibly special and important. Called an 'Empire', it dates to circa 1969 and in addition to being rare in in its own right as all Breguet timepieces from this era are, it is both the condition of this particular example and the movement powering it that further adds to its horological significance. Coming in at the larger of two available sizes, 35mm in diameter, it features a very Breguet coin-edge case design with 'officer'-style lugs, and a snapback caseback, and a yellow gold crown. As with virtually all Breguet dress watches, the dial within is an absolute delight to behold, and this piece is no exception. Silver in color, it features a variety of guilloché finishing techniques, black printed indices, a subsidiary seconds register at the 6 o'clock position, and of course, a 'Breguet' handset executed in yellow gold. Simplicity executed on the highest level. The condition of this piece is exceptional. Seemingly spared of any previous polishing, it features strong factory finishing throughout, with clear hallmarks and engravings, and a beautifully preserved dial within — once again contributing to the attractiveness of this package. Last but not least, the movement inside. Designed specifically for Observatory chronometer competition trials to be as accurate as possible, the Peseux Cal. 260 is generally regarded as one of the finest time-only chronometer watch movements of the 20th century. It was produced for about 23 years with approximately 3,300 units made, and allegedly, never sold to the public. Instead, these were distributed to high-end brand such as Leroy, CYMA, and Breguet. Additionally, accompanying this piece is an extract from Breguet's archives confirming the original date of sale in 1969. We cannot overstate how special it is to be able to offer not only a stunning example of a rare and timeless watch, but one with supporting documentation like what we have here, and from one of the most prestigious brands on earth. How can you go wrong?