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The Encyclopedia of Horology

Marine chronometer · Boxed marine chronometer

Breguet et Fils 60-Hour 'Garde Temps' Marine Chronometer

Partially verified

This boxed marine chronometer signed Breguet et Fils, dating to circa 1830, is reported by the cataloguer to feature a gilded twin-barrel movement with a quick train (18,000 A/h), Earnshaw-type spring detent escapement, and parachute suspension. The silvered regulator dial displays intersecting chapter rings for minutes and seconds, an off-center subsidiary hour dial with Roman numerals, and a power reserve indicator labeled for state of wind. The shallow brass bowl housing the movement is gimbal-mounted within a two-tier mahogany box.

Top-down view of the silvered regulator dial and gimbal mount in the wooden box
Top-down view of the silvered regulator dial and gimbal mount in the wooden box — Sotheby's. Rights pending — permission not yet requested. Original source

Catalogue identity

Source
www.sothebys.com
Category
Marine chronometer · Boxed marine chronometer
Maker / attribution
Breguet et Fils
Reference
Not recorded
Catalogue / lot identifier
180
Source-reported date
Circa 1830
Country
Not established
Source-reported serial
4208

Source-reported attribution and specifications are not independent authentication. A listing does not establish present ownership, current display, availability or permission to reproduce.

Object description

Dial Configuration and Aesthetic

The instrument features a silvered regulator-style dial signed 'Breguet et Fils' along the lower edge. The layout consists of an off-center subsidiary hour dial with Roman numerals and two intersecting outer chapter rings for minutes and seconds. These rings include Arabic numeral 10-minute and 10-second markers.

A power reserve indicator, labeled for the 'state of wind', is positioned to the right of the dial. The instrument uses blued steel hands, including a counterpoised seconds hand and a power reserve pointer.

Evidence for this section
  • “silvered regulator dial signed Breguet et Fils , subsidiary dial for hours with Roman numerals, two intersecting chapter rings for minutes below and seconds above, each with Arabic numeral 10-minute/10-second markers”
  • “sector to right for state of wind”
  • “Blued steel hands including a counterpoised seconds hand and power reserve pointer.”

Movement Construction

The movement is described as a gilded twin-barrel 'Garde Temps' type with a quick train operating at 18,000 A/h. It incorporates an Earnshaw-type spring detent escapement with a locking jewel and a two-arm bi-metallic Pennington-type compensation balance.

Technical components include an undersprung blued steel helical spring with a terminal curve and parachute suspension. The movement dial plate is marked with an ébauche maker’s punch reading 'P.E.B.' beneath a coronet.

Evidence for this section
  • “gilded twin-barrel movement with quick train (18,000 A/h)”
  • “Earnshaw -type spring detent escapement, the detent spring with locking jewel, two-arm bi-metallic Pennington -type compensation balance”
  • “movement dial plate side with ébauche maker’s punch P.E.B. beneath coronet”

Housing and Mounts

The movement is contained within a shallow, dish-shaped brass case, which is secured by screws and held within a velvet-lined shallow brass bowl using latches at the 12 and 6 o'clock positions.

This assembly is mounted via gimbals inside a two-tier mahogany box. The box features side-mounted locking screws, brass handles, and a sliding wooden panel on the top lid for observation. A lozenge-shaped brass plaque on the top is numbered 'N 4208'.

Evidence for this section
  • “shallow dish-shaped brass case, the bezel secured by brass screws, the case secured within a velvet lined shallow brass bowl with latches at 12 and 6 o’clock”
  • “contained within two-tier plain mahogany box with brass gimbal mounting, locking screws to sides for securing to ship’s chart table”
  • “lozenge-shaped brass plaque to top numbered N 4208”

Open research questions

  • What is the identity of the ébauche maker represented by the 'P.E.B.' punch mark?
  • What is the historical significance of the 'Quick Train' configuration in 19th-century marine chronometers?

Source evidence

Recorded claims and source quotations for Breguet et Fils 60-Hour 'Garde Temps' Marine Chronometer
FieldSource-reported valueSource quotation
Frequency18,000 A/h“gilded twin-barrel movement with quick train (18,000 A/h)”
EscapementEarnshaw-type spring detent escapement“Earnshaw -type spring detent escapement, the detent spring with locking jewel”
NumberingNo. 4208“lozenge-shaped brass plaque to top numbered N 4208, brass handles to sides, with a Breguet tipsy key No. 4208”
Dial Diameter65 mm“dial diameter 65mm”
Winding MechanismWolf’s tooth tandem wind“wolf’s tooth winding with intermediate gearing for tandem wind”
DatingCirca 1830“Circa 1830”
Box Dimensions150mm x 146mm x 135mm“box 150mm x 146mm x 135mm”

Visible details

  • Silvered regulator dial signed 'BREGUET ET FILS' along the lower edge.
  • Off-center Roman numeral hour track with two intersecting outer tracks for minutes and seconds.
  • Blued steel hands including a counterpoised seconds hand and power reserve pointer.
  • Brass bezel secured with screws, held in a brass gimbal ring within a mahogany box.

Research qualifications

  • Movement details, including the twin-barrel mechanism and ébauche punch mark, are not visible from the dial photograph.
  • Country of manufacture is not explicitly stated in the source text.

Photograph identity and source facts were screened before import; rights clearance remains pending.

Consulted source

Breguet et Fils | A rare 60-hour ‘Garde Temps’ twin-barrel boxed

Reviewed 2026-10-25 · Record a4275e0fe0

Terms in this record

Glossary explanations for terms named in this object’s record.

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