Wristwatches · Wristwatch
Breil wristwatch, chronograph minute and hour counters, circa 1990-1992
- Maker / attribution
- Breil (brand / maker)
- Date
- c. 1990-1992
- Historical period
- Mechanical Renaissance (1990 – 2010)
- Country of origin
- Unrecorded in source
- Object type
- Wristwatch
- Dimensions
- diameter 38.1 mm
- Auction house
- Antiquorum auction archive, Geneva
- Lot
- Lot 343-23
- Credit line
- Auction lot record: LOT 23, Hong Kong, October 14, 2021
- Catalogue title (original)
- Breil Self-winding, chronograph, minute and hour counters, triple date à guichets (with apertures), moon phases, AM-PM indication, Valjoux 7751; gilded metal (English)
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Record summary
Catalogued by Antiquorum auction archive, Geneva (lot Lot 343-23), this is a wristwatch by Breil, dated c. 1990-1992. The Atlas places it in the Mechanical Renaissance period (1990 – 2010) of its Wristwatches collection. Recorded dimensions: diameter 38.1 mm. The record is illustrated with 3 photographs.
Assembled from the source record's structured fields. Dates and attributions are given as the source states them; where a field is missing the Atlas leaves it blank rather than estimating.
Catalogue description
Antiquorum catalogue description
Gilded metal, self-winding, round-shaped, gentleman’s wristwatch, with sapphire-crystal snap-on case-back, “Vendôme”-type and “officier”-type screwed lugs, cabochon sapphire-setwinding-crown and push-pieces, white colour dial with blue colour recorders, subsidiary seconds at 9 and eight horological complications:· 1/8 second chronograph (activated by the two round-shaped push-pieces)· Half-instantaneous 30-minute counter (subsidiary dial at 12 o’clock)· 12-hour counter (subsidiary dial at 6 o’clock)· Half-instantaneous date of the month (exterior graduation with central hand)· Day of the week (aperture at 11 o’clock; indications given in English)· Month of the year (aperture at 1 o’clock; indications given in English)· Phases of the moon (aperture at 6 o’clock)· Diurnal (day-time) and nocturnal (night-time) hours with a 24-hour (AM-PM) scale (subsidiary dial at 9 o’clock)
Lot specifications (Antiquorum)
Model: made by Montres Breil, Lutry (Vaud); Reference: 1010-413; Movement No.: unnumbered; Case No.: 166; Material: gilded metal; Bracelet: blue leather Breil strap; Buckle: gilded metal Breil buckle; Caliber: 13’’’ (base on Valjoux 7751); Diameter: 38.1 mm.; Signature: dial, case and movement; Accessories: original fitted box, certificate of origin, booklets
Inscriptions & marks
dial, case and movement
Historical context
Mechanical Renaissance (1990 – 2010)
Mechanical watches return as cultural objects; independent watchmaking flourishes.
Mechanical watches returned as cultural and luxury objects. Complications, tourbillons and new materials proliferated; independent watchmakers such as George Daniels, F.P. Journe and Philippe Dufour revived artisanal watchmaking; collecting vintage watches became a major field.
Read the period in the timelineMore wristwatches from this periodEarlier: Quartz Revolution
Atlas type guide
Chronographs and split-seconds watches
A chronograph is a watch with an additional seconds hand that can be started, stopped and returned to zero independently of the timekeeping. Louis Moinet built an early example in 1816 and Nicolas Rieussec a recording 'chronographe' in 1821; Adolphe Nicole's heart-shaped reset cam (patented 1862) made the modern return-to-zero possible. Split-seconds (rattrapante) chronographs add a second hand that can be stopped for intermediate times; flyback chronographs restart instantly.
Chronographs were essential tools for doctors (pulsometer scales), artillery (telemeter), engineers and sport. In wristwatches, Valjoux, Venus, Lemania and later the automatic chronographs of 1969 (Zenith El Primero, the Chronomatic Calibre 11 group and Seiko 6139) are milestones.
What to look for
- Push-pieces on the case band or a single button in the crown (monopusher).
- Subsidiary registers for minutes and hours; tachymeter, telemeter or pulsometer scales.
- Column wheel versus cam control visible in the movement.
- Calibre markings of specialist makers (Valjoux, Lemania, Venus, Landeron).
Dating clues
- Pocket chronographs with heart cam reset: after 1862.
- Wrist chronographs: from c. 1910; two-button designs from the 1930s.
- Automatic chronographs: from 1969.
General guidance written by the Atlas editors about this kind of object. It is not a statement about this particular piece; for that, rely on the source record above and on physical examination.
Read next:Flyback chronographChronograph
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