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The Encyclopedia of Horology

Pocket watch · Pocket watch

Pocket watch by Firm of Breguet et Fils

Partially verified

This pocket watch is attributed to the firm of Breguet et Fils and is held in the collection of The Metropolitan Museum of Art. The object is recorded with a date of approximately 1900. Its construction incorporates gold, enamel, gilded brass, and steel components. The watch measures 2 7/8 by 2 by 9/16 inches (7.3 by 5.1 by 1.4 cm). The dial features Roman numerals with a subsidiary seconds dial at the six o'clock position. The movement is enclosed in a gold case, which includes a winding crown and a bow at the top. The piece was gifted to the museum in 1979 by Mr. and Mrs. Georges E. Seligmann, in memory of Simon Seligmann. The identification of the maker is based on museum records, which also document the object as part of their holdings, with further research required to verify the specific type and attribution.

Front view of the pocket watch showing the dial, hands, and the 'Breguet 720' inscription.
Front view of the pocket watch showing the dial, hands, and the 'Breguet 720' inscription. — The Metropolitan Museum of Art — Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Georges E. Seligmann, in memory of his father, Simon Seligmann, the art collector, 1979. Rights pending — permission not yet requested. Original source

Catalogue identity

Source
orbiscollectibles.com
Category
Pocket watch · Pocket watch
Maker / attribution
Firm of Breguet et Fils
Reference
Not recorded
Catalogue / lot identifier
1979.498.1
Source-reported date
ca. 1900
Source-reported place
France
Source-reported serial
720

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 pocket watch features a gold case with a smooth, polished back and a top-mounted winding crown attached to a bow. The dial is white and displays black Roman numerals marking the hours, with a surrounding minute track featuring smaller index markers.

A secondary dial is located at the bottom, dedicated to the measurement of seconds. The signature 'Breguet' is positioned above the center, accompanied by the number '720' on the dial surface.

Evidence for this section
  • “Gold, enamel, gilded brass and steel”

Signatures and Identification

The object is identified as a pocket watch from the firm of Breguet et Fils. Museum documentation links the watch to the identification number 1979.498.1.

The signature on the dial reads 'Breguet' followed by the number '720'. This number is also present in the museum records as an identifying mark associated with the watch.

Evidence for this section
  • “Watchmaker: Firm of Breguet et Fils (French, 1816–1833)”
  • “The Metropolitan Museum of Art holds this object as 1979.498.1”

Provenance and Documentation

The watch entered the collection of The Metropolitan Museum of Art in 1979. It was donated by Mr. and Mrs. Georges E. Seligmann as a memorial to Simon Seligmann, who was an art collector.

The museum categorizes the object as a pocket watch and provides its measurements as 2 7/8 by 2 by 9/16 inches. The documentation for this piece is provided by the museum's online collection records.

Evidence for this section
  • “The Metropolitan Museum of Art holds this object as 1979.498.1”
  • “Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Georges E. Seligmann, in memory of his father, Simon Seligmann, the art collector, 1979”

Open research questions

  • How does the '720' serial number correlate with existing Breguet production records?
  • Does the construction of this piece match the documented output of the firm during the ca. 1900 period?

Source evidence

Recorded claims and source quotations for Pocket watch by Firm of Breguet et Fils
FieldSource-reported valueSource quotation
MakerFirm of Breguet et Fils“Watchmaker: Firm of Breguet et Fils (French, 1816–1833)”
MaterialsGold, enamel, gilded brass, steel“Gold, enamel, gilded brass and steel”
Dimensions7.3 x 5.1 x 1.4 cm“2 7/8 × 2 × 9/16 in. (7.3 × 5.1 × 1.4 cm)”
Dateca. 1900“ca. 1900”
Museum Number1979.498.1“The Metropolitan Museum of Art holds this object as 1979.498.1”
ProvenanceGift of Mr. and Mrs. Georges E. Seligmann“Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Georges E. Seligmann, in memory of his father, Simon Seligmann, the art collector, 1979”

Visible details

  • Dial signed 'Breguet 720' below twelve o'clock
  • Subsidiary seconds dial positioned at six o'clock
  • Gold case with a winding crown at the top
  • Plain, polished case back with visible surface wear

Research qualifications

  • Maker attribution to the 1816-1833 partnership is noted despite the ca. 1900 dating provided
  • Wider type classification remains unverified by independent specialist reference

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

Consulted source

Pocket watch, Firm of Breguet et Fils, ca. 1900

Reviewed 2026-11-02 · Record 892d4d3f32

Terms in this record

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

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