Rare letter from Abraham-Louis BREGUET, father of modern watchmaking.

» Here is the invoice of the works which are my masterpieces (…) it is the work of my whole life. »

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Abraham-Louis BREGUET (1747.1823)

Letter signed.

A page in-4°. Paris. December 3, 1810

» Here is the invoice of the works which are my masterpieces (…) it is the work of my whole life. »

Very rare letter from the father of modern watchmaking placing his masterpieces in London.

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“ Gentlemen, Here is the invoice for the works which are my masterpieces and which I always intended to bring to London myself. I hope that by addressing the lord I have named you will succeed [sic] in placing them. You will also be able to show them to the most distinguished artists.

I ask you, Gentlemen, to give these works all the care they deserve; because it is the work of my whole life. Here are also the instructions for each part which give you the details and the descriptions [sic] which concern them. THE invoice amounts to f 36900. The works given to you are packaged as you desired . Accept, Gentlemen, my most sincere greetings. Breguet. »

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In 1801, Abraham-Louis Breguet was at the height of his glory and his art. That same year, he designed the first wristwatch in history for Caroline Murat, sister of Emperor Napoleon I.

Established in 1775 in Paris, the native of Neuchâtel put his know-how at the service of all the crowned heads of Europe. Let us remember his countless inventions: the gong spring for repeater watches, the pare-chute, the improvement of the perpetual movement, the tact watch and especially the tourbillon, which revolutionized watchmaking.