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The Encyclopedia of Horology

Pocket watch · Pocket watch

Breguet et Fils gold pocket watch

Partially verified

This gold pocket watch is attributed to the maker Abraham-Louis Breguet, with the movement signed 'Breguet et Fils' and identified by the number 1270. It features a gold engine-turned dial and a cylinder escapement. The watch case is fashioned from gold and bears the mark of casemaker Pierre-Benjamin Tavernier. The object was manufactured in Paris, France, between 1798 and 1809, as indicated by the period marks present on the piece. It measures approximately 4.7 cm in height and 4.2 cm in width. The watch is currently held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum, having been donated by Miss G. M. Pratt.

Front view of the gold pocket watch featuring an engine-turned dial.
Front view of the gold pocket watch featuring an engine-turned dial. — Victoria and Albert Museum. Rights pending — permission not yet requested. Original source

Catalogue identity

Source
collections.vam.ac.uk
Category
Pocket watch · Pocket watch
Maker / attribution
Breguet, Abraham-Louis
Reference
Not recorded
Catalogue / lot identifier
M.19-1957
Source-reported date
1798-1809
Source-reported place
France
Source-reported serial
1270

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

Case and Dial

The watch is housed in a gold case featuring engine-turning decoration. The case bears the mark of the casemaker Pierre-Benjamin Tavernier, confirming its origin in Paris during the 1798-1809 period. The overall dimensions are 4.7 cm in height by 4.2 cm in width, with a depth of 0.8 cm.

The gold dial is engine-turned and displays Roman numerals for the hour markers. The watch is signed 'Breguet et Fils' on the dial face, which serves as a primary identifier for the watch's origin.

Evidence for this section
  • “Case: engine-turned gold, mark of Pierre-Benjamin Tavernier”
  • “signed 'Breguet et Fils'”
  • “Height: 4.7 cm; Width: 4.2 cm; Depth: 0.8 cm; Height: 5.3 cm”

Movement and Escapement

The internal mechanism of the watch is identified as a cylinder escapement. The movement is marked by the firm 'Breguet & Fils' and carries the serial number 1270, which distinguishes this specific unit within the production history of the maker.

The inclusion of the cylinder escapement is a feature noted in the description of the movement provided by the collection records.

Evidence for this section
  • “Movement with cylinder escapement by Breguet & Fils, no. 1270”

Provenance and Identification

The object is entered in the museum archives under the accession number M.19-1957. The provenance of the piece is linked to the donation made by Miss G. M. Pratt to the institution. The attribution of the watch to Abraham-Louis Breguet and the casemaker Tavernier is based on museum documentation.

The watch is catalogued based on its marks, including those dating it to 1798-1809. These archival details, including the maker's signature and the unique serial number, ensure the watch is identified within the broader horological context of Parisian gold watch production.

Evidence for this section
  • “Accession number: M.19-1957”
  • “Given by Miss G. M. Pratt”
  • “Breguet, Abraham-Louis (watchmaker); Tavernier, Pierre-Benjamin (casemaker)”

Open research questions

  • What specific maintenance or restoration has this watch undergone since its entry into the museum collection?
  • Does the serial number 1270 allow for an exact month or year of completion in the Breguet archives?

Source evidence

Recorded claims and source quotations for Breguet et Fils gold pocket watch
FieldSource-reported valueSource quotation
MakerBreguet, Abraham-Louis (watchmaker); Tavernier, Pierre-Benjamin (casemaker)“Breguet, Abraham-Louis (watchmaker); Tavernier, Pierre-Benjamin (casemaker)”
Serial number1270“no. 1270”
Accession numberM.19-1957“M.19-1957”
Date1798-1809“1798-1809”
Place of originParis“Paris (made)”
Escapementcylinder escapement“cylinder escapement”
InscriptionBreguet et Fils“signed 'Breguet et Fils'”

Visible details

  • Engine-turned gold dial surface
  • Roman numeral hour markers
  • Visible 'Breguet et Fils' signature on dial and movement
  • Deep blue hands

Research qualifications

  • Specific production date within the 1798-1809 range is not more precisely identified.
  • Internal mechanism functionality is not detailed in the source.

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

Consulted source

Watch

Reviewed 2026-10-26 · Record ab9e791167

Terms in this record

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

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