Auction Sotheby’s Announces the Largest Auction Dedicated to Breguet Timepieces

Breguet is celebrating its 250th anniversary this year, marking a milestone since its founding by one of the most influential figures in watchmaking history, Abraham-Louis Breguet, in 1775. We previously explored the brand’s history and Abraham’s contributions and inventions in the field of horology. To this day, Breguet continues to draw inspiration from his creations and is now part of the Swatch Group.

To mark this occasion, the prestigious maison is collaborating with Sotheby’s to organize the largest auction dedicated to Breguet timepieces in over 30 years. This historic event will showcase an exceptional collection of watches, including rare pieces that once belonged to members of the Breguet family.

The auction is being organized in collaboration with Breguet and Emmanuel Breguet, Vice President and Head of Heritage, who is also a descendant of the founder. It will highlight key milestones in the brand’s rich history through an outstanding selection of pocket watches, wristwatches, and table clocks, all of which showcase Breguet’s technical mastery, pioneering creativity, and revolutionary innovations.

The auction will take place as part of Sotheby’s prestigious watch sales in Geneva, alongside the renowned semi-annual “Important Watches” auction.

Among the highlights is the "Perpétuelle à Tact" watch from 1827, featuring a date display, a power reserve indicator, and a mechanism that indicates the state of wind, showing whether the mainspring is fully wound or unwound. The “UP) denotes a fully wound state, while the (DOWN) indicates an unwound mainspring. This extraordinary timepiece was specially made for King George IV of the United Kingdom and Hanover and bears his royal crest on the caseback.

Another remarkable piece is the "Montre à Tact", featuring an open dial, a calendar mechanism, and a moon phase indicator, which served as the inspiration for reference 3330. The auction will also include a rare "Pendulettes" clock equipped with an alarm mechanism, a perpetual calendar, and a minute repeater, as well as a skeletonized tourbillon watch crafted from two-tone gold.

Additionally, the sale will feature a selection of rare and historically significant timepieces that come directly from a branch of the Breguet family, making it an unmissable event for collectors and enthusiasts of the brand.

Commenting on the event, Gregory Kissling, Breguet’s newly appointed CEO, who took office late last year, stated:

"As we celebrate this historic milestone, we pay tribute to the creative genius of Abraham-Louis Breguet and his numerous innovations. These historical timepieces, each carrying a unique story, are now set to continue their journey."

Further details about the auction will be revealed later this year.

For more information, visit Breguet official website.