February 2021ratskunk

Never Mind the Bollocks…Here's Thomas Engel
…the Ka of Breguet
& interludes of time

To me, fair friend, you never can be old, For as you were when first your eye I ey'd; Such seems your beauty still.Sonnet 104


Caveat lector: The article is more-or-less a hodge-podge of Thomas Engel germane to A.L. Breguet; confessedly sans narrative even wandering the article touches upon the namesake as author, collector and watchmaker—please note the author (myself) is not a scholar, horological or otherwise (the article is more treat than treatise), therefore even though reasonable attempts were made to describe things as they are fiction may have crept in (by stealth not intent) where documentation is scant if extant at all. Corrections to errata are welcome. Pictures of watches and books from the author's library else foraged from auction catalogs etc. and bumblingly photoshopped, resized, arranged etc. by the author.


Preface

Thomas Engel's journey from PoW camp to The Worshipful Company of Clockmakers Honorary Liveryman, Freeman of the City of London, Breguet liege-man and a watchmaker in his own right is a passage unlikely to be retraced. Hopefully this Thomas Engel potpourri so-to-speak fosters within the intrepid or masochistic reader of this dog's dinner of a waffle an appreciation for Thomas Engel: author, collector, watchmaker and Breguet spiritual doppelgänger and/or whets the reader's appetite for trekking hitherto leafy horological trails.

To lend cosmos to the chaos is a road-map regarding the omnium gatherum of horological vignettes i.e. ragbag topics…

Thomas Engel Biographical Sketch
A.-L. Breguet: Watchmaker to Kings
Thomas Engel-Breguet: Type Concours Observatoire
Thomas Engel-Breguet: Tourbillons
Thomas Engel Benoît Tourbillon No. 1
Thomas Engel & L'Oeuvre d' A.-L. Breguet 1976
Thomas Engel & Breguet Thermometer Watches
Thomas Engel: Breguet & the Dr. Halpern Affair
Thomas Engel & Breguet Ottoman Cabriolets
Thomas Engel, Theodor Beyer & Breguet No. 455
Thomas Engel & Alfred Helwig's 1927 Tourbillon
Christie's Sir David Salomons Sale Part III, 1965
Thomas Engel & Breguet Pendule de Voyage
George Daniels: Thomas Engel Tourbillon
Sir David Salomons: Breguet 1747–1823
Thomas Engel Collection Sale Part 1
A.-L. Breguet Literature
Appendix I: List of Breguets owned by Thomas Engel
Appendix II: Thomas Engel-Breguet Auction References
Appendix III: Reference Materials & Recommended Reading

Interludes: L'Horloge, l'énigme secondes d'un coup, the Lord Spencer, A Clock stopped, Modesty Blaise, Sun Ra, Magical Thinking, Francis Bacon, The sound and the fury, It's About Time, Centenaire de A.L. Breguet 1923, Stradivarius, Auguste Rodin vs. Jeff Koons, Apollinaire, Rolex-Rolex-Rolex.


Thomas Engel Biographical Sketch

A cursory bio, for more detail see «Thomas Engel, Ein Moderner Thomas Edison Die Biographie» [02]: TE (German: 1927–2015), ≈20 years of age TE after the war emgered from the American PoW camp at Inglostadt (Bavaria) to labor as a factotum before the autodidact TE began experimenting with organic chemistry & plastics (inventing cross-linked polyethylene PEX), awarded the 1972 Rudolf-Diesel-Medaille and eventually obtaining many remunerative patents enabling TE to indulge his lifelong horological passion begining in the 1950s inflamed by Sir David Salomons' Breguet book [09] not only amassing a superb horological collection [03] including many Breguet timepieces but also creating his own Breguet-inspired watches, a self-taught watchmaker TE mastered 18th and 19th century watchmaking tools particularly the rose engine becoming an accomplished dial and case maker.

…Engel therefore began to work in an American kitchen for around seventy soldiers from a postal unit. Washed pots, jugs and plates there, and started preparing breakfast at half past five in the morning. After six weeks he was able to break 150 eggs into the fried egg pan with both hands for breakfast and then cook the entire breakfast on his own without a kitchen sergeant. In the evening he returned home with sugar, chocolate, and cigarettes…And he learned English. (Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, November 22, 2000).

Engel had no advanced degrees. In fact, he never finished high school. At 19, he walked out of the American prisoner-of war camp at Ingolstadt, Bavaria. He worked as a dishwasher, drove a taxi, labored in a furniture factory and in construction. And then he began to experiment with polyethylene, which he had read about during his years as a POW. That led to his invention of Engel-method PEX. He went on to get 120 patents, but preferred selling rights or licenses to his inventions rather than become a manufacturer. He was a millionaire before he was 30. (The Engel Method: Plumbing & Mechanical magazine, September 2015).

The TE autobiography is availabe in German «Ein Moderner Thomas Edison Die Biographie» and in English (the NAWCC library has the English version). The cover of the book displays the United Kingdom patent certification # 1158011 (3/9/1967) awarded to Thomas Engel for “Improvement in or relating to apparatus and process for the preparation of Polymeric Materials.”

The charm—and weakness—of autobiographies of this kind is that they clearly are not “literature” but “stream-of-consciousness” narrative, probably told to a tape-recorder and then transcribed, and only lightly edited. This process also unavoidably leads to numerous small factual errors. This is not primarily a horological book. Engel's family, his inventions and his career get first billing, but there are significant horological tidbits (well known watchmakers like Alfred Hellwig and Richard Daners make their appearance, meetings with prominent dealers like Edgar Mannheimer, Tina Millar and Richard Faulkinert are described, as are once important collectors like Cyril Rosedale and Seth Atwood) to fascinate a horologist. (Fortunat F. Mueller-Maerki, NAWCC book Review 2004).

Suprisingly to the author Thomas Engel's autobiography makes mention of Breguet only a handful of times featuring only two pictures of Breguet watches: No. 3167 and No. 65/722 both presumably owned by Thomas Engel (both watches also appear in «Watchmaker to Kings»).

After parting with his watch collection and disheartened by the reticence and apathy towards his dream of the Engel-Time-Museum Thomas Engel reportedly withdrew from horology and retired to the Côte d'Azur and turned his attention to painting, reading and writing short-stories.


A.-L. Breguet
Watchmaker to Kings
Thoughts on Time by Thomas Engel

All kings, princesses, celebrities and crowned heads of Europe set themselves on Breguet time.watchmaker to kings

Ad perpetuam memoriam of Breguet: Fortunat F. Mueller-Maerki calls the book lavish: yes the book is lavish almost baroque…the book offered as an homage to A.-L. Breguet is a fitting oblation like frankincense and myrrh…marbled end-papers, top edge gilt, heavy cream paper, bound in the style of Breguet's “Etui maroguin rouge” and pictures befitting a Breguet. The book features the life & achievements of A.-L. Breguet (1747–1823), sundry ruminations on Breguet (Thoughts on Time), watches and collecting and 30+ Brequet timepieces many with their Breguet certificate. There are sections on Breguet's tourbillons, enamel & metal dials, watchcases, collecting Breguets past and present, ≈17 historic drawings and sketches and an essay on Time & Space. Since its publication «Watchmaker to Kings» has been a perennial bibliography entry in the Breguet literature and is in the good company of Breguet books by David Salomons [09] and George Daniels [06].


The Breguet timepieces featured in «Watchmaker to Kings» in order of appearance (L→R)…

No. 3008 The LeroyNo. 2077 The king of SpainNo. 1176 The Comte PotockyNo. 1588 The Leroy
No. 689 The Lucien BonaparteNo. 153/4570 The Pozzo di BorgoNo. 1767 The Lord BerwickNo. 3624 The Davidoff
No. 1645 The RecordonNo. 65/722 Le PetitNo. 164 The LegrasNo. 2782 The Hervey
No. 219 The DumergueNo. 47 The Lord SpencerNo. 1776 The King George IIINo. 2934 The Inconnu
No. 4285 The RaguseNo. 987 The Prince RusseNo. 2810 The LeroyNo. 3519 The Davidoff
No. 3167 The HavreNo. 444 The RenbleNo. 370 S.A. Ismail PaschaNo. 2362 The Steinkeller
No. 217 The HavasNo. 1320 The Leroy ConstantinopleNo. 936 The Ismail Pacha IINo. 4297 The Whaley
No. 2961 The InconnuNo. 2292 The LabouchèreNo. 26 The CastellaneNo. 2568 The Moltshanoff
No. 3545 The DuconNo. 53 The Orloff

★ n.b. The author mistakenly had taken for granted all the watches appearing in «A.L. Breguet: Watchmaker to Kings» belong(ed) to Thomas Engel but TE notes in the book “My thanks go…to the numerous unnamed collectors who trustingly made their watches…available to me for reproduction”—the book does not per se mention the owners of the watches but safe to suppose the following watches in the book were owned by TE as the watches are listed in «Professor Thomas Engel Collection-Part 1»: Breguet Nos. 164, 1320, 2292 and 3519—the last three watches currently Collection Montres Breguet S.A. according to «Breguet. An apogee of European watchmaking» [37, pg. 132, 137, 109]. Breguet No. 2077 also belonged to Thomas Engel. Further note Breguet Nos. 987 & 2782 appearing in «Watchmaker to Kings» were attributed to “Collection Thomas Engel” in the 1976 Musée International d'Horlogerie exhbition: L'Oeuvre d'Abraham-Louis Breguet [13].

Breguet No. 987 (Vitrine 3b). Montre à tact, boîte or avec cercle émail à indications horaires et petit cadran argent au centre avec aiguilles acier…Vendue en 1803 à un prince russe pour Fr. 1440…Collection Thomas Engel (RFA): Musée International d'Horlogerie [13, pg. 19].

Breguet No. 2782 (Vitrine 5). Montre perpétuelle. Boîte or guillochée. Cadran émail à signature secrète. A gauche indication de réserve de marche; à droite, thermomètre. Répétition à minutes…Signée «Breguet» sur la carrure. Vendue en 1816 au colonel Hervey (1782–1819) pour Fr. 6000.-…Collection Thomas Engel (RFA): Musée International d'Horlogerie [13, pg. 25]

★ n.b. Breguet No. 1776 (The King George III) is assumed to have belonged to Thomas Engel: Christoph Allemann's article (Chronometrophilia No. 19) features three Breguets of which two Breguets belonged to Thomas Engel, the third Breguet in the article is No. 1776 suggesting the watch too belonged to Thomas Engel (picture of No. 1776 from George Daniels' «The Art of Breguet»).

One cannot improve on a Breguet.thomas engel


Interlude
L'Horloge—Baudelaire

Horloge! dieu sinistre, effrayant, impassible,
Dont le doigt nous menace et nous dit: Souviens-toi!
Les vibrantes Douleurs dans ton coeur plein d'effroi
Se planteront bientôt comme dans une cible;

Le Plaisir vaporeux fuira vers l'horizon
Ainsi qu'une sylphide au fond de la coulisse;
Chaque instant te dévore un morceau du délice
À chaque homme accordé pour toute sa saison.

Trois mille six cents fois par heure, la Seconde
Chuchote: Souviens-toi!—Rapide, avec sa voix
D'insecte, Maintenant dit: Je suis Autrefois,
Et j'ai pompé ta vie avec ma trompe immonde!

Remember! Souviens-toi! prodigue! Esto memor!
(Mon gosier de métal parle toutes les langues.)
Les minutes, mortel folâtre, sont des gangues
Qu'il ne faut pas lâcher sans en extraire l'or!

Souviens-toi que le Temps est un joueur avide
Qui gagne sans tricher, à tout coup! c'est la loi.
Le jour décroît; la nuit augmente; Souviens-toi!
Le gouffre a toujours soif; la clepsydre se vide.

Tantôt sonnera l'heure où le divin Hasard,
Où l'auguste Vertu, ton épouse encor vierge,
Où le Repentir même (oh! la dernière auberge!),
Où tout te dira Meurs, vieux lâche! il est trop tard!


Thomas Engel-Breguet Timepieces

Remember that the most beautiful things in the world are the most useless; peacocks and lilies for instance.john ruskin: stones of venice

Thomas Engel created ≈40 timepieces (estimate based on available documentation) in the manner of A.-L. Breguet using the Zenith calibre 5010/5011K as the ébauche. The watches can be grouped into two categories: Type Concours Observatoire and Tourbillons—the numbering system is abstruse if not byzantine as across auction houses and sundry references there seems to be a lack of consensus regarding the number assignment…often it's puzzling as to whether a watch is being referred to by its case no., movement no., certificate no. or some handy sobriquet—the author's summary of the numbers is more guess than science. Manfred Rössler noted in his book on Zenith [73, pg. 98]

A general overview of the chronometers Prof. Engel made with Zenith movements is sadly not possible anymore. Many documents and papers were stolen during a break-in in Prof. Engel's house…it is to dread that the thieves destroyed all written papers.

† Hauke Heffels' Klassik Uhren article “Eine Zeitreise von den Entdeckungen Guillaumes bis zur Clingeric 21 (A journey through time from Guillaume's discoveries to Clingeric 21) [24, pg. 24–28] provides a summary of the Zenith 5011K caliber.

The numbered pocket-watches listed are the Thomas Engel-Breguet watches referenced (by the author) through auction records, books, articles etc. representing ≈40 timepieces.

Type Concours Observatoire: Nos. 1, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 (IWC), 11, 16, 17, 19, 25, 26, 29, 39 & Unk-1.

Tourbillons: Nos. 000 (Jump-hour), 1, 1 (Benoît), 2 (Benoît), 2b, 3, 4 (Jump-hour), IV, VI, VIII, IX, X, 12, 14, 15, 15b, 17,
27, 28, 1991 & Unk-3.

Please refer to Appendix II for auction references of the Engel-Breguet watches mentioned in the article.


★ n.b. Manfred Rössler's article «Thomas Engel: Taschenuhr-Chronometer Im Stile Breguets» (Klassik Uhren [04, pg. 26–43]) is as complete a reference as can be imagined regarding the Engel-Breguet watches therefore eminently recommended. It is nigh impossible for the author (myself) to attempt concordance between the Klassik Uhren article and the watches noted in the present article—please don't let the minutia of discordance hinder the appreciation of the watches. From the Klassik Uhren article…

Für seine Taschenuhren hat [Thomas Engel] er hauptsächlich Werke von Zenith verwendet … baute zusammen mit Richard Daners, Luzern, ca. 30 verschiedene Chronometer, meist mit Tourbillon und zusätzlichen Komplikationen. In der Regel verwendete er dazu das Chronometer-Kaliber 5011K für Taschenuhren von Zenith ohne Tourbillon und für Uhren mit Tourbillon das Werk 5011T. Dieses Rohwerk 5011K lieferte Zenith in etwas abgeänderter Form. So wurde die Räderwerkbrücke geteilt, die Federhausbrücke und der Unruhkloben verändert und dem Minutenrad ein Chaton verpasst. Das Rohwerk 5011T bekam auf der Grundplatine die Ausdrehung für den Tourbillonkäfig.


The Thomas Engel-Breguet watches featured guilloché dials with Roman numerals & days of the week in French, engine-turned 18K gold cases (on occasion Email-Arbeit), gold Breguet hands with an extra set of blued-steel apple hands, spare main-spring, watch rate certificates from Controle Officiel Suisse des Chronometres, La Chaux-de-Fonds, wooden presentation box (some boxes have a U-shaped closure) and a hand-written certificate. The frontispiece of the presentation box says: “Thomas Engel (w/ TE mark), Chronometrie Classique en homage á A. L. Breguet, Montres De Haut Précision, Type Concours Observatoire”. Winding and setting of time for most if not all the Thomas Engel-Breguet watches is performed by twisting the bow.


Type Concours Observatoire

Concours Observatoire No. 39, jump-hour, sweep-center-seconds circa 1985 along with Concours Observatoire No. 6, circa 1980 and Concours Observatoire No. 8, circa 1980s.

Thomas Engel No. 39. A very fine and rare 18K pink gold openface keyless lever jump hour watch with sweep centre seconds, power reserve, bow winding and setting mechanism and regulator dial Signed Thomas Engel, Chronométre Type Concours Observatoire, no. 39, circa 1985 Movement: manual, cal. 5011.K, 19 jewels Dial: engine-turned silver, regulator-type, gold-rimmed window for the Arabic jump hours, engraved Arabic minute numerals on outer brushed chapter ring, outermost brushed ring with inlaid black enamel Arabic numerals for the centre seconds, fan-shaped 36 hours "up/down" power reserve indication, blued steel Breguet hands. (Christie's 2016).


Thomas Engel No. 1 Tribute to A. L Breguet, Type Concours Observatoire circa 1964 (?), Thomas Engel Concours Observatoire No. 17 circa 1980 and Thomas Engel Concours Observatoire No. 19 (courtesy Musée lnternational d'horlogerie, La-Chaux-de-Fords).

Thomas Engel No. 1. Montre de poche en or avec boîtier empire guilloché et fond vissé. Cadran argenté et guilloché avec aiguilles Breguet pour la lecture des minutes au centre. Cadrans auxiliaires: décentré à 9h pour la lecture des heures, indication des jours de la semaine à 3h, secteur à 6h pour le thermomètre et ouverture à midi pour la réserve de marche. Mouvement mécanique avec échapement à ancre, 19 rubis, remontoir à la couronne. Signée et numérotée 1 sur le mouvement, boîtier no. 4. Dans son écrin signé en bois et son certificat d'origine: 12 Mars 1964. (Tajan, Paris 2019).

Thomas Engel, Dessiné par Th. Engel Chronometre Type Concours Observatoire, Werk Nr. 17, 56 mm, 157 gr., circa 1990. Seltene, neuwertige Herrentaschenuhr "Ankerchronometer", mit Gangreserveanzeige, Wochentagsanzeige, retrograder Thermometeranzeige und Regulatorzifferblatt mit Holzschatulle und Blankozertifikat Geh.: 18Kt Gold, guillochiert, Schraubboden, Werksverglasung, Aufzug über drehbaren Pendant, Gehäusemacher-Punzzeichen "TE" (Thomas Engel). Zffbl.: Silber, guillochiert, Stundenziffernring mit radialen röm. Zahlen, Zentralsekunde, Fenster für Gangreserveanzeige, BreguetGoldzeiger. Werk: Brückenwerk, rhodiniert, "fausses côtes" Dekoration, nummeriert, signiert, polierte Schrauben, große Glucydur-Schraubenunruh, gebläute Unruhspirale, Stoßsicherung für Unruh und Ankerrad. (Dr. Crott Auctioneers 2010, # 81).

Picture credit: Thomas Engel No. 19 Collection du Musée International d'Horlogerie La Chaux-de-Fonds, Suisse. © Photo MIH

Regarding the 1964 Thomas Engel No. 1: the date seems quite early as Thomas Engel in an inteview with Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung says he [Engel] learned the watchmaker trade between 1975–1980 and TE's master craftsman certificate is dated 1979 though the certificate accompanying the Tajan auction seems to list the date 1964—the author remains flummoxed.


Thomas Engel No. 9 Type Concours Observatoire 18k gold openface keyless lever watch with power reserve, thermometer, day of week and bow winding and setting mechanism…

Thomas Engel No. 9. Cal. 22"', with nickel-finished lever movement, 19 jewels, ebauche stamped Chronomètre Type Concours Observatoire, mono-metallic compensation balance, steel spiral spring with regulator, glazed dust cover, the silvered engine-turned dial with Roman numerals on silvered brushed chapter ring, gold Breguet hands, two subsidiary dials for the seconds and day, fan-shaped sector for temperature in Celsius, aperture below 12 for power reserve, in circular case with engine-turned screw back, winding and setting mechanism operated through bow, case, dial and movement signed 56 mm. diam. and alternative 18k gold engine-turned case back with three gold fishes on a central blue enamel disc. (Christie's 2004).


Thomas Engel Unk-1 Type Concours Observatoire: Rössler [04, pg. 42] notes as “Zenith Kaliber 5011K (mit geteilter Räderwekbrüke), zwei hilfszifferblätter anziege der stunden (2 zeitzone).” The watch can be found in Chronometrophilia No. 19 [25, pg. 73] (along with an unidentified Thomas Engel regulator-style watch) in the Christoph Allemann article: “Geschichte und Anwendung der Guillochiertechnik im UhrenBau (History and application of guilloché technology in watchmaking).” The article offers no particulars about the watch itself but the author (Allemann) thanks Thomas Engel for his “great patience and enormous expenditure of time.”

Zum Schluss dieser Arbeit möchte ich Hernn Thomas Engel und seiner Frau für ihre gross Mühe und Hilfe herzlich danken. Sie waren es, die mich als Laien mit grosser Geduld und enormen Zeitaufwand in die Kunst Kunst und Technick des Guillochierens einfürhrten. Nur durch ihren Einsatz war die Entstehung dieser Diplomarbeit möglich.

★ n.b. Christoph Allemann notes in the Chronometrophilia No. 19 article Thomas Engel's attempt to achive the Breguet guilloché aesthetic …

Dem Ehepaar Engel, das sich in Aesch, Lucerne niedergelassen hat, ist es nach langen Versuchen gelungen, das typische Breguet-Raster (Parkett) auf Zifferblättern zu erzeugen. Darüber hinaus wird die Kunst des Guillochierens dort noch in allen Variationen gepflegt. Sammler kommen von weit her, um dies zu sehen ([25, pg. 41]).

The Engel couple, who settled in Aesch, Lucerne, succeeded after long attempts to create the typical Breguet grid (parquet) on dials. In addition, the art of guilloché is still cultivated there in all its variations. Collectors come from far and wide to see this.


Thomas Engel No. 7 Type Concours Observatoire (Ineichen Zürich), No. 11 Type Concours Observatoire (Sotheby's), No. 26 Type Concours Observatoire (Christie's) and No. 25 Type Concours Observatoire (Bonhams).

Thomas Engel No. 7 Type Concours Observatoire: schwere golduhr 18K, 46-Stunden-Gangreservenanzeige, Thermometer, Datum, Originalzertifikat, Mahagonibox, Ersatzfeder und Ersatzzeiger, Aesch (Suisse) 1980. Signiert THOMAS ENGEL No. 7 "Premiere Classe". Guillochiertes Gehäuse mit Schraubdeckel. Guillochiertes Silberzifferblatt, goldene Breguetzeiger, Ziffer-und Minutenring poliert. Randversetzt Thermometer mit Goldskala, Fenster für Gangreserve, Datum-und Sekunden-Kreis. Rhodiniertes Ankerwerk, Breguet-spirale, Schraubenunruh, Stosssicherung, Aufzug und Zeigerstellung über Pendant, Bandschliff. D = 5,7 cm. (Ineichen Zürich, 2010: lot 56).


Thomas Engel No. 29 Type Concours Observatoire designed in the manner of Breguet's souscription watches with a single hand reading the hours and minutes at five-minute intervals. Pictured with Breguet No. 580 circa 1800 and Breguet No. 4455 circa 1827.

Thomas Engel No. 29. A very fine and rare silver and silver-gilt openface keyless lever single-hand watch with retrograde seconds and bow winding and setting mechanism Signed Thomas Engel, Dessiné par Th. Engel pour Commémorer A.L. Breguet, No. 29, circa 1985. Engine-turned silver, souscription-type, engraved Roman hour numerals on outer brushed chapter ring, outermost brushed ring with five-minute divisions, semicircular gilt sector for the retrograde seconds, single blued steel arrow hand. (Christie's 2017).

Art is the elimination of the unnecessary.picasso

…it's the notes you don't play.miles davis

…[Breguet] had therefore, to look for better systems: this is how he invented the tourbillon, the montre perpetuelle, the montre à tact…and perhaps the greatest of all, the souscription. “Die Kunst liegt im Weglassen” (The art is to omit). The construction of the souscription is engineering at it's very best. Simple, as are all good inventions, and at the same time, perfectly executed. [Breguet] marketed this watch simply as “Souscription”…In it's time, it was breathtaking. (A. L. Breguet: Watchmaker to Kings [01, pg. 206]).

★ n.b. The author remembers a wonderful picture of a collection of souscription timepieces belonging to Jean-Claude Sabrier (1938–2014): horological scholar and the author of the tome «Longitude at Sea in the Time of Louis Berthoud and Henri Motel». The collection included the souscription watches: Breguet Nos. 245, 283, 1383, 3907 and 4427—the watches were sold in the May, 2015 Chayette & Cheval sale: La Collection Scientifique de Jean-Claude Sabrier.


Thomas Engel No. 3 Concours Observatoire circa 1980 sold by Sotheby's in 2012 (pictures from Antiquorum 2005) and No. 16 Concours Observatoire. The reader will notice a small difference in the temperature display: No. 16 is much closer to the minute-track than No. 3.

Thomas Engel No. 3. An 18k yellow gold open-faced chronometer watch with days of the week, power reserve and thermometer circa 1980 No. 3, type concours observatoire certified chronometer nickel lever movement, 19 jewels, silvered guilloché regulator dial, polished chapter rings for minutes, hours and days of the week, aperture for up and down indication, fan-form sector for thermometer, engine-turned case, bow winding mechanism, case, dial and movement signed diameter 56 mm. (Sotheby's 2012).

Thomas Engel No. 16. Engine turned silver dial with central minutes hand, two small chapter rings for hours and dayd, small gold sector for centigrade degrees. Nickel finished movement, bar calibre of school type (technicum “La Chaux de fonds”). Inscriptions punched on the bridges: “Ths. Engel Chronométre No. 16. Type Concours observatoire”. Well known Breguet collector Thomas Engel recently undertook to make high quality watches, for pleasure, especially for the happy few. (Chayette & Cheval, Paris, 1980).


The Zenith-Thomas Engel Collection: the genesis of these watches are a mystery to the author as the birth of the watches seems sprinkled with vagueness—a suite of 75 (25 of each dial design) Breguet-inspired, Zenith-Thomas Engel collaboration 50mm watches using the Zenith calibre 68 (19 lignes): «Zenith: The Story of a Watch Manufacture Under a Guiding Star» [72, pg. 281–282]. The Zenith-Engel watches are signed both Zenith and Thomas Engel on the dial. The Zenith-Engel watches pictured: Christie's 2020, lots 3–5: advertisements for the watches appeared in the 1985 Chronométrophilia No. 19 (featuring reference nos. 32.0020.016 and 32.0030.016) and the July, 1983 Alte Uhren featuring all three Zenith-Engel watches…

Exklusive numerierte Chronometer (beschränkte Serie), 18 kt Rotgoldgehäuse, Originales guillochiertes und handgraviertes, Zifferblatt aus Silber, Breguet-Stil, 19 Linien-Werk. (Alte Uhren 3/1983, page 212).

Alte Uhren (July 1981) notes the introduction of Zenith Tradition collection of Breguet-style, Thomas Engel signed watches. The Zenith-Thomas Engel watches are noted in the Nachrichten section of Alte Uhren April, 1983.

Taschenchronometer im 18 kt Goldgehäuse von ZENITH - MOVADO S.A., Le Locle Ein Taschenchronometer mit Mondphasenanzeige, erstes einer auf 25 numerierte Exemplare beschränkten Kollektion—»Zenith Tradition«—wurde ebenfalls auf der Baseler Messe der Öffentlichkeit vorgestellt. Das 19 linige Werk mit Ankerhemmung und Kronenaufzug (das Pendant einschließlich des Bügels dient als »Krone«) wird von einem 18 kt Goldgehäuse im Breguet-Stil umschlossen. Das massiv silberne guillochierte Zifferblatt ist oberhalb des Zentrums »Zenith« und neben der XII »Thomas Engel« signiert. (Alte Uhren, 3/1981, page 164).

Beim Rundgang durch die diesjährige Inhorgenta konnte man sich auf dem gelungenen Stand der Zenith Time über vier Chronometer freuen, die in begrenzter Stückzahl gefertigt und verkauft werden. Einmal handelt es sich um drei verschiedene Taschen-Chronometer, die in der Herstellung streng auf 25 Stück limitiert sind. Die 19 linigen Werke entsprechen in Aufbau und Ausführung solchen der Jahrhundertwende. Die Ganggenauigkeit wird jeder Uhr in Form eines offiziellen Gangzeugnisses bescheinigt. Die Werke sind in Gehäuse aus 18 karätigem Gold eingebaut, die Zifferblätter im Stile Breguets aus massivem Silber gefertigt. Alle Taschenuhren werden in einem Mahagoni-Holzkastchen geliefert. (Alte Uhren, 2/1983, page 117).


Tourbillons

Nun aber selbst ein Tourbillon zu bauen mit Hilfe von Herrn Daners, das war eine große Herausforderung, die wir beide annahmen. Daners wollte das Drehgestell konstruieren und bauen, ich das Werk, Ziffernblatt und Gehäuse. Es dauerte nur etwas mehr als ein Jahr, bis das erste Tourbillon tickte. Was für eine Freude! Herm Daners ließ es ziemlich kalt. Für mich als Laie war es aber ein unvergesslicher Augenblick in meinem Leben. Ich war machtig stolz.

But now to build a tourbillon ourselves with the help of Mr. Daners, that was a big challenge that we both accepted. Daners wanted to design and build the bogie, I wanted to design the movement, dial and case. It only took a little over a year for the first tourbillon to tick. What a joy! Herm Daners left it pretty cold. For me as a layman it was an unforgettable moment in my life. I was very proud. Thomas Engel [02, pg. 203]

Thomas Engel No. 28 (Richard Daners one-minute flying tourbillon), circa 1980, 56.5mm, 12 & 24 sidereal and solar time, annual calendar and thermometer with an additional engine-turned silver dial, spare-main-spring and extra hand-set, wound and set by the crown and a pin in the case band. No. 28 with the silver dial installed (pictured far-right) is featured in «Richard Daners: Sein Werk-Son Oeuvre» [41, pg. 88–89].

★ n.b. No. 28 tourbillon maybe inspired by Breguet No. 2807 and Breguet No. 4112 (respectively «A.-L. Breguet pendant la révolution» [08, pg. 93] and «The Art of Breguet» [06, pg. 267])—equation-of-time, annual calendar, moonphase timepieces (moonphase for No. 4112 on the movement itself). B&W picture of Breguet No. 4112 reproduced from Daniels & Markarian's «Watches & Clocks in the Sir David Salomons Collection» [11, pg. 74]. Breguet 2807 was sold to General Aleksey Petrovich Yermolov in 1817.


Thomas Engel No. 14 (case # 21) tourbillon, circa 1980 (COSC certificate 22610 dated 1.1.1984)…

Montre en or jaune 18k (750) de type régulateur avec tourbillon et indicateur de réserve de marche Boîtier: rond avec fond vissé entièrement guilloché, la carrure cannelée et le pendant servant de couronne de remontoir, poinçon de maître "TE" Cadran: argenté et guilloché, indication des minutes sur aiguille centrale, les heures sur cadran excentré, petite trotteuse et demi secteur pour l'indication de la réserve de marche, signé "Engel" Mouvement: mécanique avec échappement à ancre latéral, cage rotative de Richard Daners pour le régulateur tourbillon, balancier bi-métallique, spiral anti magnétique spécial Nivarox, porte le poinçon de maître "TE", signé "Thomas Engel" (Artcurial 2020).


R. Daners fecit Lucerna

Richard Daners kennen, den meiner Meinung nach begabteststen Uhrmacher der Schwiez.Thomas Engel [02, pg. 199]

To the best of the author's knowledge most if not all the Engel tourbillons were made by Richard Daners (Essen, Germany, 1930–2018) the celebrated watchmaker and longtime Gübelin collaborater. Pictured below (left) is the Gübelin “Turbulences” made by Richard Daners and Marion Müller to celebrate Gübelin's 150th anniversary. A nice overview of Richard Daners' horological creations can be found in the little book: «Richard Daners: Sien Werk-Son Oeuvre»—in 1997 Richard Daners received the prestigious Prix Gaïa from the Musée International d'Horlogeriea joining the company of George Daniels, Derek Pratt & Philippe Dufour.

right: Zwillingstourbillon (twin tourbillon) [41, pg. 104–105] circa 2003: listed as: "Rohwerk Zenith/Engel ebauche 5010T stark modifizeirt" (raw work Zenith/Engel ébauche 5010T heavily modified).

far right: prototype (circa 1980) pour tourbillon à ancre partir duquel la Maison Zénith modifiait son calibe 5010 en ébauche de tourbillon Zénith/Engel 5010T. [41, pg. 76]. Movement stamped: [1980 R. Daners construit pour Thomas Engel].

Thomas Engel No. IV (case 35) one-minute tourbillon circa 1983, in the upper-right of the movement is Richard Daners' signature [Regulateur à Tourbillon construction R. Daners, Lucerne]. Richard Daners' Gemini differential tourbillon [41, pg. 106–107] circa 2005: description includes: “Rohwerk Zenith/Engel stark modifizeirt” (raw work Zenith/Engel heavily modified).

Engel No. IV: Accompanied by Thomas Engel original certificate no. 31 confirming the sale of the present watch by Chronomètrie Classique Aesch, Lucerne to Monsieur Anton Wickl on 28 January 1983, Bureaux Suisse de Contrôle Officiel de la Marche des Chronomètres Watch Rate Certificate No. 22514 dated 3 July 1982. Guillaume balance with gold poising screws, blued steel balance spring with overcoil, the one minute tourbillon regulator with polished steel three-arm carriage and engraved Régulateur à Tourbillon, construction: R. Daners, Lucerne, réglage: J.P. Vuille, Le Locle (Christie's 2007).

★ n.b. Diese Rohwerke [Zenith 5011K/5010T] bekam dann Richard Daners, einer der derzeit größten Meister auf dem gebiet der uhrmacherischen Komplikationen. Richard Daners baute dann nach den Ideen und Vorstellungen von Thomas Engel die entspechenden Zusatzmechanismen wie Tourbillon, Datum, Bimetall-Thermometer, Auf- und Abwerke, Anzeigen für Wochenhtage und regulator-Anzeige, etc. ein. Klassik Uhren [04, pg. 27].

A Richard Daners tourbillon made for the German über-collector Gerd Ahrens (1920–2005); signed Für G. Ahrens Anno 1987. The escape-wheel and balance-wheel were supplied to Gerd Ahrens by Thomas Engel and die Guillochen stammen von Thomas Engel. Apropos of Breguet: Gerd Ahrens' first collector's watch purchased from Galerie Fischer (Luzern) was Breguet No. 4763 circa 1845 (pin-pallet escapement).

Indieser Uhr ist alles vereint, was nach der Theorie von Helwig ein gutes Tourbillon ausmacht. Auf den Kronenaufzug wurde aus Kostengründen verzichtet, da das ganze Werk aus dem Rohen geschaffen werden musste, es standen keine Ebauches zur Verfügung. Die Unruh und das Hemmrad wurden mir liebenswürdigerweise von Thomas Engel aus seinen Nardin-Fournituren zur Verfügung gestellt, alles andere ist die Arbeit von Richard Daners (Die taschenuhrensammlung von Gerd Ahrens [56, pg. 314]).


Thomas Engel No. IX one-minute tourbillon (tourbillon carriage by Richard Daners), 56mm, circa 1982 and Thomas Engel No. 1991 specially made for the Breguet exhibitions in London, Geneva, Paris, New York, Brussels and Zurich in 1986. Gold keyless pocket chronometer with one minute tourbillon, thermometer and winding indicator…

Thomas Engel No. 1991: Case: 18ct., three piece, bassine et filets form, with screw fitted back, engine-turned à decor de vannerie, reeded band with glazed cover. Pendant doubling as a winding crown. Dial: Engine-turned silver, signed: "Breguet", with Roman numerals on a plain reserve, subsidiary seconds, with gold inlaid sectors for the centigrade thermometer and the up-and-down scale graduated for 48 hours. Gold Breguet hands. Movement: Gilt brass, 22"', half-plate caliber, signed: "Breguet, No. 1991", and stamped with the mark of T. Engel, with fausses côtes decoration, 19 jewels, lateral lever escapement with cut bimetallic balance. Free-sprung blued-steel spiral balance spring with terminal'curves. One minute tourbillon with three-arm polished steel cage, driven from the minute wheel. (Antiquorum 1991).

★ n.b. Thomas Engel No. 1991 mayhap inspired by Breguet No. 2247, circa 1809, minute-repeater, state of winding on the left and thermometer on the right…though the fan-displays of Thomas Engel No. 1991 are more reminiscent of the upward-sweep of the fan-displays of Breguet No. 4745 Sympathique watch (clock No. 257).


Thomas Engel-Breguet Montre à Tact timepieces: No. 27 and No. 17 (the watch is pictured in Engel's Breguet book [01, pg. 123]). Montre à Tact obtain their name from the method used to tell the time, which is to feel the position of the hand at the front of the case relative to the touch pieces set at the edge of the case (Daniels [06, pg. 63]).

Thomas Engel, Haldenhof Aesch/Luzern, Swiss, No. 27, Tourbillon Garde Temps a Tact No. 2 from a series of two pieces only, completed between December 1981 and 1984. Very fine 18K gold keyless pocket chronometer a Tact, with one minute tourbillon regulator, in original mahogany fitted box with certificate No. 41 (Antiquorum 1999).

No. 17 “The Engel” Gold 1 minute tourbillon, echappment detent, compensated balance, gold case, a tact system Breguet by turning the gold arrow above the rockcristal glass at the back. Cristal with gold numerals, platinum touchpieces, gold engine turned dial up-down, second at 6.30, secret signature [01, pg. 123].

On the right a similar design with see-through case-back: a student watch from the National School of Watchmaking of Cluses, France, circa 1940s; the front of the watch is a standard dial and on the back of the watch a glass case-back with Montre à Tact; the watch is part of the collection at Musée l'horlogerie et du décolletage (Cluses, France). Handwritten description of Tourbillon No. 17 from certificate No. 33 dated 23, May 1981.


Thomas Engel Tourbillon No. VIII circa 1983 (described Das Tourbillon [40, pg. 281]), unidentified Thomas Engel tourbillon [73, pg. 99], purple enamel case-back with gold-accents and Thomas Engel No. 15 tourbillon.

Thomas Engel Tourbillon No. VIII: 18K gold and enamel, keyless one-minute [Richard Daners] tourbillon regulator with thermometer and power-reserve indication, half-plate, fausses cotes decoration, three-arm carriage with lateral lever escapement, Guillaume balance, 56.5mm, Four-body, "forme collier", screw-down engine turned back overlaid with translucent green enamel with very elegantly arranged gold paillon leaves. (Antiquorum 2012).

Thomas Engel No. 15 tourbillon: A very fine and rare 18K gold keyless tourbillon watch with days of the week, power reserve and regulator dial, the tourbillon carriage by Richard Daners Signed Thomas Engel, No. 15, circa 1980 (Christie's 2017).


Thomas Engel No. 3 tourbillon circa 1982. The dial with the letters “Dr. K. Ste_grad” is from Ineichen Zürich auction 125 (2000). The watch appears as lot 314 in Dr. Crott's auction 89 (2014) with a Roman numeral dial.

Heavy gold watch 18K with anchor tourbillon, thermometer, Power reserve indicator, original certificate and accuracy certificate “Contorle officiel Suisse des Chronometres” marked Particularly good results, Aesch Luzern around 1982. Signed THOMAS ENGEL No.3 Garde Temps. Silver dial, blued Breguet hands and small seconds at the VII. Finely engine-turned Center, 36-hour power reserve segment Up/Down and additional golden signature plate. Instead of numbers the name of the former owner. Glazed nickel-plated 1- Minute tourbillon. Thermometer with gold scale “Grad. 30°–5° Celsius”. Hallmarked TE. (Ineichen Zürich, 2000).

Thomas Engel tourbillon No. 3: Movement No. 3, Case No. 39, 56 mm, 178 g, circa 1982. Case: 18K gold, engine-turned, screw back, glazed movement, winding by turning the pendant, case maker punch mark "TE" (Thomas Engel). Dial: silver, engine-turned, inlaid radial Roman hours, auxiliary seconds between "6" and "7", aperture for power reserve at "12", signed, blued Breguet hands. Movm.: 1/2 plate movement, rhodium-plated, "fausses côtes" decoration, screwed gold chatons, numbered, signed, finest mirror polished tourbillon steel cage, Guillaume screw compensation balance. (Dr. Crott Auctioneers, 2014).

★ n.b. Two Breguet watches with the owner's name on the dial: Breguet No. 3966 and Breguet No. 4704…

Chayette & Chevel, December, 2004, lot 165: Breguet No. 3966: Montre en à répétition des quarts. Cadran en argent guilloché les chiffres remplacés par le nom THADEE TODWEN lisant de XII à XI. Montre en or à répétition des quarts signée ‘Breguet Horloger de la Marine Royale 3966’…1824…Thadée Todwen, membre d'une famille de vielle noblesse polonaise.

Antiquorum, April, 2001, lot 156: Breguet No. 4704. Purchased 1828 by M. Antoine Jobal. Dial: silver, Roman chapters, outer dot minute divisions, guilché center, Blued steel Breguet hands. Ruby cylinder escapement. When Monsieur Antoine Jobal ordered the watch he requested that the dial bear his name which happened to have twelve characters instead of numerals. A subsequent owner, not wanting someone else's name on the dial, ordered a new one. [author's note: the original sketch from the archives (certificate no. 1160) of the watch appears in «Breguet Watchmakers since 1775» Paris, 1997, p. 286].


Thomas Engle jump-hours tourbillons (circa 1979): [No. 000 (Jump-hour) & No. 4 (Jump-hour)]—both watches are listed as “Fotos Thomas Engel” (Klassik Uhren [04, pg. 43]). By appearences excepting one watch has a silver dial and the other gold the watches are more-or-less similar in design and function: Zenith ébauche, one-minute tourbillon, bimetallic thermometer, circa 1979: the author was unable to locate any auction appearances of the two watches. Thomas Engel writes of Breguet's jump-hour watches…

Often the hour and minute hands on a Breguet are not synchonised in the usual way, but work independently of each other. The minute hand moves through 360° in one hour, the hour hand remains stationary, only jumping forward onto the next hour when the minute hand reaches the 12 o'clock position. To read the time…the owner must think analogously; for example 3-15 and not 15 minutes past 3. Whether such a system was truly practical or logical is not the point, it was an example of Breguet's individuality! Watchmaker to Kings [01, pg. 171].

★ n.b. Two Breguet pérétuelle à heure sautante (jump-hour), minute-repeating watches: Breguet No. 30 circa 1791 (Hans Wilsdorf Collection) and Breguet No. 28 circa 1791 (Musée international d'horlogerie). See «The Art of Breguet» [06, pg. 69] for Breguet's use of the jump-hour in repeating timepieces. Breguet No. 44 circa 1792, ten-minute repeater à toc with jumping-hours: Cecil Clutton notes Breguet No. 44 may be the earliest surviving Breguet jump-hour watch «Collector's Collection» [62, pg. 62].


Thomas Engel No. X one-minute tourbillon Garde Temps.

Thomas Engel, Haldenhof Aesch/Luzern, Swiss, No. X, Tourbillon Garde Temps, completed in July 1983. Very fine 18K gold and enamel, keyless pocket lever chronometer with one minute tourbillon regulator, Watch Rate Certificate No. 22563, from the Controle Officiel Suisse des Chronometres, La Chaux-de- Fonds, delivered on April 6, 1983, with mention: "Especially good results", in original mahogany fitted box with certificate No. 39 and Watch Rate Certificate. (Antiquorum 1999).

This chronometer is based on the Ebauche [Zenith 5010] which established the unsurpassed world record of reliability and precision at the Observatory and has been individually made, using as far as possible, the original methods and machines. Some of these machines date well before 1870 and are museum pieces in their own right. However, they have been lovingly restored by Thomas Engel who had to relearn the traditional skills, since their method of operation had been lost many years ago. (Antiquorum 1999).


Das Tourbillon-Faszination der Uhrentechnik

Reinhard Meis' grand book «Das Tourbillon-Faszination der Uhrentechnik» [40] includes five Thomas Engel-Breguet tourbillons.

Thomas Engel tourbillon No. 2b (stamped No. 2) with thermometer (Das Tourbillon [40, pg. 279]) and tourbillon No. 2 (Benoît), circa 1978 (Sechs-Sekunden-Tourbillon, Grundkaliber von Zenith, nach Benoit) (Das Tourbillon [40, pg. 282]). Rössler notes the dial (left) of No. 2 (Benoît) is “später geändertes” [04, pg. 31]—the watch with the “ursprüngliches” dial shown on the right is reproduced from Chronométrophilia No. 21 [26, pg. 29].

Richard Daners discusses the Thomas Engel No. 2 (Benoît) in the April 1987 Alte Uhren article «Ein Tourbillon nach A. H. Benoît»…

Es mag in der Zeit der Quarz-Chronometer ein Anachronismus sein, sich heute noch eingehend mit einer fast unbekannten Erfindung aus den 60er Jahren des letzten Jahrhunderts zu befassen, noch dazu mit einem Mechanismus, der sich in der Praxis leider nicht bewâhrt hat…Herrn Thomas Engel, dem passionierten Horologen kommt das Verdienst zu, durch die Realisation von 2 Benoît-Tourbillons in Beobachtungsuhrgröße (Werkdurchmesser 50 mm) die Möglichkeiten dieser Bauart an der fertigen Uhr testen zu können. Dieses Verdienst ist um so größer, weil das doch recht kostspielige Abenteuer in seinem Ergebnis völlig ungewiß war (Alte Uhren [22, pg. 20–27]).

Thomas Engel in the only article the author located written by the watchmaker himself discusses Benoît's tourbillon and Thomas Engel's No. 2 (Benoît) in the article «Das Tourbillon nach A. H. Benoit» (Alte Uhren April, 1980 [23])…

The case and dial are built in the Breguet style. We used 18k gold and made the dial from pure silver. When turned, the pendant doubles as a winding crown. The minute hand is designed as a jumping minute, that is, when the second hand reaches 60, the minute hand jumps forward by one minute. The back of the case is engine-turned in the same structure as Tavernier used (Tavernier was case maker A. Breguets). The tourbillon is signed: Engel Nr. 2. We would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who helped us with the implementation of this project. Special thanks and appreciation are due to Richard Daners, whose craftsmanship and expert advice significantly influenced the construction of the tourbillon.

Thomas Engel tourbillon No. VI (movement only), Das Tourbillon does not display the dial of the watch.

Thomas Engel Nr. VI, Aesch um 1980 - Minuten-Tourbillon mit Ankerhemmung. Versilbertes Werk mit Genfer Streifen. Auf der Grundplatine bezeichnet: Thomas Engel Nr. VI. Offenliegende Aufzugsräder mit verzahntem Sperrkegel (links), der einen weiten Rücklauf der Feder garantiert. Minutenrad und Trieb für das Aufund Abwerk in Rubinlager mit Goldchaton. Drehgestellager in geschraubtem Goldchaton. Die einseitig befestigte Drehgestellbrücke ist aus poliertem Stahl. Der Klobenfub ist aus versilbertem Messing und von unten auf die Platine geschraubt.

Thomas Engel tourbillon Unk-3 regulator with temperature display Das Tourbillon [40, pg. 280]. The temperature is shown in degrees Celsius from 5° to 30°. The green enamel tourbillion with temperature display is listed as No. VIII in Antiquorum (2012, lot 41).

Thomas Engel Unk-3: Guillochiertes Goldgehause in 18 K. mit rundem Bügelkopf und Bügelring. Durch Drehen des Bügelkopfes wird die Uhr aufgezogen. Die Guillochierung der Gehause wird nach alten Vorlagen auf alten, noch gut erhaltenen Guillochiermaschinen hergestellt. Das Hand-werk des Guillochierens ist heute nur noch selten anzutreffen.


An Alte Uhren article «Uhren fur sammler gesehen auf der basler mustermesse 1983» (Watches for collectors seen at the Basel sample fair 1983) by Martin Huber includes a paragraph about Thomas Engel and a picture of an unidentified Thomas Engel tourbillon(s).

In den Vitrinen von Zenith waren Tourbillons des deutschen Erfinders und Industriellen Thomas Engel ausgestellt. Der bekannte Breguet-Uhrensammler Thomas Engel hat sich schon vor Jahren auf einen eigenen Hof in der Nähe von Luzern zurückgezogen und dort eine groBe Werkstatt für Uhrmacherei wie vor 100 Jahren eingerichtet…Seine Gehäuse und Zifferblätter sind ebenfalls im Stil von Breguet gestaltet. Es ist Thomas Engel nach vielen Experimenten gelungen, den typischen "Frost" auf Breguets Zifferblättern nachzuahmen…Jede von Thomas Engel gefertigte Uhr wird vor Freigabe einem Schweizer Observatorium zur Prüfung übergeben und nur dann, wenn die Tests bestanden wurden, verkauft. (Alte Uhren, 3/1983, page 273).

Tourbillons by the German inventor and industrialist Thomas Engel were on display in the Zenith showcases. The well-known Breguet watch collector Thomas Engel retired years ago to his own farm near Lucerne and set up a large watchmaking workshop there, just as it was 100 years ago…The case and dials are also designed in the Breguet style. After many experiments, Thomas Engel succeeded in imitating the typical "frost" on Breguet's dials…Every watch manufactured by Thomas Engel is handed over to a Swiss observatory for testing before it is released and is only sold if the tests have been passed.


Thomas Engel No. 15b tourbillon. Though the auction does not list the movement as 5011T Rössler [04, pg. 35] notes “Zenith Kaliber 5011T (Rädarwerk und Ausdrehung für den Tourbillonkäfig).” The watch is a departure from the other Thomas Engel-Breguet watches with spade-hands, silvered-dial, hinged-case & 66mm; the movement is marked “Tourbillon gebaut für Stefan Ludwig”.

Thomas Engel, No. 15, gebaut 1986 Hochfeine neuwertige schwere Goldtaschenuhr mit 1 Minutentourbillon und Bulletin de Marche Observatorium Le Locle vom 22/10/1986 "Especially good results" Guillochiertes 18kt a goutte Gehäuse mit Goldcuvette und Werksverglasung. Versilb. Zifferblatt mit aufgelegten Indizes und 48h Gangreserveanzeige. Gebläute Spade-Zeiger. Rhod., streifendekoriertes, chatoniertes Halbplatinenwerk mit geblauten Schrauben. Feiner polierter Stahlkäfig mit Ankerhemmung und Goldschrauben-Komp.-Unruh. (Dr. Crott Auctioneers # 66).


Thomas Engel No. 12, certificate No. 000, circa 1998, 56.5mm, tourbillon, moon-phases and power-reserve indicator. Auction description says: “tourbillon carriage in this watch is also likely to have been manufactured by the celebrated watchmaker Richard Daners.” To the author's knowledge No. 12 is the only Thomas Engel-Breguet moonphase pocket-watch.

Dial: silvered, engine-turned with Roman hour chapter and Arabic five minute divisions, moon-phases at 10, power reserve indication between 2 and 3, subsidiary seconds between 6 and 7, blued steel hands. Movement: cal. 12 manual winding tourbillon lever, 19 jewels. Movement number: 12. Case: 18ct pink gold, engine-turned screw-down back, winding through the bow. Case number: 000. Dimensions: 56.5mm diameter. Signed: case, dial and movement. Accessories: numbered Thomas Engel Certificate, spare mainspring barrel and hands and fitted presentation case. This watch, numbered 000 is the very first of its kind. It was originally gifted to a member of Engel's family. (Sotheby's 2019). [n.b. the certificate No. 000 dated 12, November 1998 is written “for Valerie” [Thomas Engel's daughter].


Curiouser and curiouser: The Thomas Engel No. 10 pictured below along with its auction description (Antiquorum 2007) uses an IWC ébauche versus the Zenith: the movement is listed as an IWC (Probus Scafusia, No. 1068651); according to Tölke & King [47, p. 222] the IWC movement # 1068651 corresponds to a circa 1943 IWC calibre 67, 15 or 16 jewels (auction lists 19 jewels), lepine, 5.5mm height and 18 lignes ≈40mm, bimetallic balance, swan-neck regulator and small-seconds so the IWC calibre 67 seems to match the auction description. Sans more information the No. 10 the watch is being assigned to the Engel-Breguet Type Concours Observatoire category.

LOT 244: Pink Gold & Platinum "Commemorer A.L. Breguet" Thomas Engel, No. 10, the movement by IWC, Probus Scafusia, No. 1068651. Dessiné par TH. Engel Pour Commemorer A.L. Breguet, made in the 1980s. Very fine and rare, 18K pink gold and platinum, keyless, dress watch with eccentric regulator dial. Accompanied by a Thomas Engel brass-bound mahogany box, spare mainspring, and spare crystal. D. Matte silver, regulator type, eccentric hour chapter with radial Roman numerals set to the left, subsidiary seconds below, outer minute chapter with dot divisions and Arabic five-minute numerals, center and outermost border engine-turned. Blued-steel Breguet hands. M. 40mm, frosted gilt, 19 jewels, straight-line lever escapement, cut bimetallic compensation balance, self-compensating blued steel balance-spring with outer terminal curve, "swan-neck" micrometer regulator. Dial, case and movement signed. Movement signed IWC. Diam. 55 mm. (Antiquorum 2007).

Thomas Engel No. 10 was also featured in the Ineichen Zürich XXII sale (1977)…

Einzelanfertigung, 1974. Signiert THOMAS ENGEL Nr. 10…Verglastes, rubingelagertes Ankerwerk unter Verwendung eines IWC-Ebauche…Diese Uhr wurde von Thomas Engel in Anlehn ung an die bedeutenden Tascbenuhren von A. L. BREGUET stilistisch nachgebaut [This watch was built by Thomas Engel in the style of the most distinguished watches by A. L. Breguet]. (Ineichen Zürich XXII, 1977, lot 184).

Pictured with Thomas Engel No. 10 in the Ineichen Zürich sale are Breguet Nos. 3519 (lot 181) and 2835, quarter-repeater moonphase (lot 183). Thomas Engel purchased No. 3519 in 1965 and the watch was exhibited in 1976 attributed to Thomas Engel and in 2001 the watch was still in Engel's possession: did Breguet No. 3519 not sell, withdrawn from sale? Breguet Nos. 2835: could No. 2835 have belonged to Thomas Engel given the watch is pictured with two other watches owned by Thomas Engel? The lot in between Nos. 3519 & 2835 was Breguet No. 115 (dial with small rosette): No. 115 was later to be sold (lot 72) as part of the Antiquorum 2001 Michael Sandberg sale.


Manfred Rössler mentions in Klassik Uhren [04, pg. 32 & 34] two Engel-Breguet watches that appeared in the Antiquorum Geneva, October 1983 sale, namely Concours Observatoire No. 4 (1979) and Tourbillon No. 1 (1980) (respectively lots 179 & 180). The 1983 Antiquorum catalog seems as elusive as Kilgore Trout's «Gospel from Outer Space» as the author searched a mari usque ad mare to no avail thus the Klassik Uhren pictures are reproduced. The Concours Observatoire No. 4 is recognizable by two features if not unique themselves then in tandem compared to the other Concours Observatoire watches…...

The sub-seconds is displayed in an aperature (kleines fenster) under the cross-axis and the temperature display interlopes across the boundary of the minute track—the pair of features seems confined to Concours Observatoire No. 4.

Tourbillon No. 1 (picture reproduced from the Klassik Uhren article) is not to be confused with Tourbillon No. 1 (Benoît) donated to Musée lnternatlonal d'horlogerie—according to Rössler the watch has two case-backs: boden austauschbar: 1 boden guillochiert and 1 boden mit blauer email-arbeit.


Interlude
l'énigme secondes d'un coup

The author has used the little grey cells to no avail: the Breguet watch Thomas Engel describes remains a puzzle to the author…

Tina Millar von Sotheby's in London rief mich an: "Tom, wir haben eine hochinteressante "Breguet" hereinbekommen. Die solltest Du Dir ansehen." Tina, eine langjährige Freundin von mir, leitete bei Sotheby's die Abteilung "Clocks and Watches".

Sie war aus Gold mit goldenem Zifferblatt. Das Besondere an ihr war jedoch, dass sie eine springende Zentralsekunde hatte. Wie bei einer Bahnhofsuhr springt der Sekundenzeiger von einer Sekunde zur anderen, um dann stehen zu bleiben, bis die nächste Sekunde fällig wird. So kann man damit sehr genaue Messungen vomehmen. Sie war 1808 von "Breguet" gebaut und an einen russischen Grafen verkauft worden. Am nächsten Tag war die Versteigerung, auf der ich sie für 76,000 DM erwarb. Tina sagte: "Tom, Du bist total verrückt. Du hast gegen das britische Museum geboten". Mir war das egal. Ich musste dieses Stück einfach haben. («Ein moderner Thomas Edison, Die Biografie» [02, pg. 271]).

★ n.b. Tina Millar was the head of Clocks and Watches, Sotheby's London and recipient of the 2006 Worshipful Clockmakers Company Master's Medal for “outstanding service to the Company over many years as a Trustee and as Editor of 'The Clockmaker' newsletter”. Cecil Clutton and George Daniels in the perennial referenced book «Watches» acknowledge a special appreciation to Miss Tina Millar.

Thomas Engel describes the Breguet as: gold with a gold dial and a secondes d'un coup (sudden seconds)—the most similar Breguet watch the author could find fitting Thomas Engel's description is Breguet No. 121, circa 1806, minute-repeater, secondes d'un coup with gold engine-turned dial [06, pg. 160] but just a wild, uneducated guess. Breguet's secondes d'un coup mechanism is explained by George Daniels in «The Art of Breguet» page 350, illustrations 424a–b.


Thomas Engel Benoît Tourbillon No. 1

Thomas Engel-Breguet Benoît-Tourbillon No. 1: the first of two Benoît tourbillons (No. 2 Benoît see Chronométrophilia [26, pg. 29]), No. 1 Benoît was donated to the MIH (Musée lnternational d'horlogerie, La-Chaux-de-Fords) in 1981. Pictures of the No. 1 Benoît courtesy of the Musée lnternational d'horlogerie; the watch is described in «Le tourbillon, prouesse technique des horlogers» in Chronométrophilia…

Cadan gravé: Engel Tourbillon No. 1, Mouvement gravé: Ths. Engel No. 1 Chronométre Type Concours d'Observatoire. Le mouvement, élaboré à partir d'une ébauche Zénith, possède un tourbillon de Benoît. Cadan en argent guilloché, avec en haut, petit cadran de la réserve de marche gradué de 0 à 48 et en bas, cadran des secondes (Chronométrophilia 40 [29, pg. 24]).

Picture credit: Thomas Engel No. 1 Collection du Musée International d'Horlogerie La Chaux-de-Fonds, Suisse. © Photo MIH

The Musée lnternational d'horlogerie was kind enough to send the author No. 1 Benoît certificate No. 21 dated April 14, 1981 with a handwritten description of the watch by Thomas Engel…

The May, 1981 L'Impartial (La Chaux-de-Fonds newspaper) had an announcement of the Thomas Engel donation.…

Thomas Engel, gentleman horloger offre un don exceptionnel au MIH: Thomas Engel: un nom que l'histoire, horlogèr retiendra sans aucun doute. Voilà un homme, un autodidacte qui sans avoir fait une heure d'école d'horlogerie s'offre le luxe de conotruire des montres à touriblllon que seuls, les maîtres parmi les maîtres sont capables aujourd'hui de réallser Il y a mieux: ce gentleman horloger qui entretient des relations amicales avec le conservateur du Musée lnternatlonal d'horlogerie, M. André Curtit, a décidé de faire don au MIH de son tourblllon No. 1, construit et habillé à l'image des plus belles pièces de Breguet…

…sa [Engel] passion est la montre d'abord et avant tout, Son atelier situé en Suisse alémanique fait pâlir d'envie dit-on, les maîtres horlogers et restaurateurs les mieux équipes! IL est aussi l'heureux propriétaire d'une importante collection de montres Breguet qui trouve en lui un digne héritier. (L'Impartial, May 1981).

Thomas Engel recounts in an 1980 Alte Uhren article [23, pg. 151] a discussion with Alfred Helwig (1886–1974) regarding Helwig's flying-tourbillon and the Benoît tourbillon…

Anläßich eines Besuches im Jahr 1973 bei Herrn Alfred Helwig, ehemals Oberlehrer an der Deutschen Uhrmacherschule in Glashütte, unterhielten wir uns uber seine Arbeiten auf dem Gebiet des Tourbillons, insbesondere natürlich über die Uhr Nr. 17, die er 1927 selbst gebaut hat und die nach seinen Ausführungen mit dem leichtesten jemals gebauten Drehgestell versehen ist: “Viel leichter kann man ein Tourbillon-Drehgestell sicherlich nicht herstellen. Ich war damals schon an dem Minimum des zur technischen Durchführbarkeit gerade noch Zulässigen angelangt. Anders wäre es, wenn man das geniale Prinzip von A. H. Benoit anwenden würde, welches tatsächlich ohne Drehgestell auskommt, trotzdem aber die charakteristischen Merkmale des Tourbillon beinhaltet.”

A. H. Benoit hat 1848 die Uhrmacherschule in Cluses Frankreich gegründet und war auch deren Direktor bis zu seinem Tode. Er beschäftigte sich speziell mit der Theorie und Praxis der Präzisions-Taschenuhren und somit naturgemäß auch mit dem Bau des Tourbillons. “Ich weiß nicht, ob da je ein Tourbillon nach diesem Prinzip gebaut wurde. Wir haben uns hier in Glashütte viele Gedanken darum gemacht und auch ein Stück mit sehr gutem Ergebnis hergestellt. Leider ist es in den Wirren des Krieges verlorengegangen. Es war ein einmaliges kleines Wunderwerk.”


Interlude
Breguet No. 47 “The Lord Spencer”

Den Kauf dieser “Breguet-Churchill” habe ich nie bereut.Thomas Engel

Thomas Engel relates the purchase of a Breguet perpétuelle (hands were so fine as if they were spider threads according to TE) from Edgar Mannheimer in «Thomas Engel, Ein moderner Thomas Edison, Die Biografie»—the author cautiously makes the assumption the watch is Breguet No. 47 which appears in «Watchmaker to Kings» and is described as: “The Lord Spencer”, perpétuelle, minute repeater, anchor-escapement, gold case, jumping hour, white enamel dial, up-down, (Sir Winston S. Churchill).

Edgar Mannheimer rief mich aus Zürich an: “Ich habe gestern eine Breguet-Uhr hereinbekommen, von der ich sicher bin, dass sie Dich interessiert. Sie ist aus dem Jahre 1782 und sicher eine der ersten mit automatischem Aufzug.” “Naturlich”, “erwiderte ich, “das hört sich gut an. Warum kommst Du nicht heute mittag nach Aesch?” Als er dann am Nachmittag kam und mir die Uhr gab, war ich geblendet. Selten hatte ich ein so schönes und gut erhaltenes Exemplar gesehen. Die Zeiger waren so fein, als wären es Spinnenfäden. Alles original.“Das Beste aber habe ich Dir noch nicht gesagt”, rief Eddi. “Die Uhr stammt aus dem Besitz von Sir Winston Churchill und ist von Anbeginn an in seiner Familie gewesen. Es ist die Linie: Lord Spencer-Duke of Marlborough-Churchill”. Natürlich habe ich die Uhr sofort gekauft. Ich hätte jeden Preis dafür bezahlt. (Thomas Engel [02, pg. 203]).


Thomas Engel & L'Oeuvre d' A.-L. Breguet 1976

Die künstlerische Leistung Breguet's kann nicht übersehen werden . Sie ist gleichzusetzen mit der eines Rembrand, Stradivari oder Faberge. thomas engel, preface to l'oeuvre d'abraham-louis breguet 1976

The 1976 Musée International d'Horlogerie exhibition: L'Oeuvre d'Abraham-Louis Breguet included ≈ dozen Breguet watches including a carriage clock noted as “Collection Thomas Engel”. Here are three watches from the exhibit appearing neither in «Watchmaker to Kings» nor in the 2001 Antiquorum Thomas Engel sale: Breguet No. 4238, circa 1826 (David Salomons' collection), Breguet No. 986 (montre simple à souscription) & Breguet No. 1687 (quarter repeating à toc).

The Musée International d'Horlogerie booklet has an introduction by George Daniels and a brief preface by Thomas Engel entitled: “Betrachtungen zum Werk von A.-L. Breguet” and the booklet concludes…

Avec la collabration technique de M. George Daniels et de M. Thomas Engel l'exposition a été préparée par un groupe de travail du Musée International d'Horlogerie comprenant MM. Samual Guye, Alfred Wild, André Curtit et Remy Pellaton, décorateur.

Thomas Engel's Breguet No. 2914 featured in the Musée International d'Horlogerie exhibition: sold 1819 to Lord Whitworth (1752–1825) for 2,700 Francs; Lord Whitworth (former British Ambassador at Paris and per Napolean a fort bel homme) visited Paris and Louis XVIII in 1819 which may have been the occurance of the purchase of Breguet 2914. Thomas Engel's Breguet No. 3519 called “The Davidoff” in «Watchmaker to Kings» and watch No. 35 in David Salomons' collection.

Breguet No. 2914 (Vitrine 6b). Montre or, boîte finement guillochée. Cadran argent avec seconde à 4 h. et calendrier à 8 h. Aiguilles acier bleui. Enchappement à cylindre…Répétition à quarts sur timbre et marteau intermédiaire, première classe…Collection Thomas Engel (RFA) [13, pg. 29].

Breguet No. 3519 (Vitrine 12a). Montre or. Boîte guillochée avec armoiries gravées sur le fond. Cadran or à deux signatures secrètes. Petit seconde et jour de la semaine à 4 h., date à 8 h., heures sautantes…Répétition à quarts sur timbre…Vendue en 1822 au général Davidoff…Collection Thomas Engel (RFA) [13, pg. 49].

★ n.b. The Musée International d'Horlogerie booklet does not have pictures of the watches: No. 4238 is from «Breguet 1747–1823» [09] and Nos. 986, 1687, 2914 & 3519 are from «The Art of Breguet» [06].

Three Thomas Engel watches in the 1976 Musée International d'Horlogerie exhibition for which the author is unable to locate pictures of the watches…

Breguet No. 515/4564 (Vitrine 3a). Petite montre savonnette or, boîte guillochée, cadran argent excentré…Vendue en 1843 à Monsieur Hogdson Fr. 900.-. ⌀ 38 mm. Collection Thomas Engel (RFA).

Breguet No. 1679 (Vitrine 6b). Montre or avec gravure sur le fond (arbre stylisé). Cadran émail…Répétition à toc. Collection Thomas Engel (RFA).

Breguet No. 2122 (Vitrine 6c). Montre savonnette or, boîte guillochée…Répétition à quarts…Vendue en 1808, pour Fr. 2760.-. ⌀ 54 mm. Collection Thomas Engel (RFA).


Interlude
A Clock stopped

A clock stopped – not the Mantel's
Geneva's farthest skill
Can't put the puppet bowing
That just now dangled still.

An awe came on the trinket!
The figures hunched, with pain,
Then quivered out of decimals
Into degreeless noon.

It will not stir for doctors,
This pendulum of snow
The shopman importunes it,
While cool, concernless No

Nods from the gilded pointers,
Nods from the seconds slim,
Decades of Arrogance between
The dial life and him.


Thomas Engel & Breguet Thermometer Watches

Thomas Engel thermometer watches: in 1785 Breguet applied a bimetallic thermometer to a watch (the bimetallic strip though used for regulation is credited to John Harrison, refer to Gould [50, pg. 48]); the reader will notice most of the Thomas Engel-Breguet Concours Observatoire watches feature a thermometer as do many of the tourbillons: Thomas Engel seemingly had an affinity for the thermometer but not suprising…

In addition to the many improvements Breguet made in the field of horology he [Breguet] also gave considerable attention to the thermometer. Thermometers were often included in [Breguet's] watches, where the pivoted hand indicates the temperature on a sector on the dial. They work on the principle of varying coefficient of expansion causing a change in shape of a laminated strip of dissimilar metals (platinum, gold and silver). (The Art of Breguet [06, pg. 91]).

In a 1819 “Products de la maison Breguet” is listed Nouveau Thermométre Métallique d'une Sensibilité Extraordinaire: Le nouveau thermométer éprouve sans intermediaire l'influence de la température. Il est composé de trois lames; en platine, en or et en argent, dans l'état de la plus grande pureté…L'extrême sensibilite de ce thermométre, qui en fait un instrument si précieux en physique, le rend également propre aux usages ordinaires. (Breguet 1747–1823 [09, pg. 109–110]).

Two examples of Breguet watches with temperature display: Breguet No. 1806 and No. 1860 (reads Froid–Chaud). Thomas Engel's temperature displays were either sektoranzeige eines bimetall-thermometer (sector display on the dial) or auf der uhr-ruckseite angeordnet (on the back of the watch) as shown in Thomas Engel Tourbillon No. 28 and displayed a temperature range of 5°–30° C (41°–86° F). George Daniels used a temperature display in ≈5 watches including the Beyer, the Nall-Cain and the Grand Complication (display within the sub-seconds)—Thomas Engel includes the thermometer as a rote feature so-to-speak: maybe as the scientist or l'art pour l'art. One-third of the Zenith-Thomas Engel Collection watches featured a temperature display (pictured next to the Daniels' Grand Complication, temperature display at 9 o'clock).

Breguet No. 4518 with thermometer, enamel dial, Roman numerals, circa 1828, sold to Daniel Doumerc: the sub-seconds overlapping the thermometer «Breguet-Watchmakers since 1775» [35, pg. 289]. Daniel Doumerc was an English (London) friend of Breguet's: Breguet No. 2999, quarter-repeating watch was sold to Daniel Doumerc in 1817 (Antiquorum, April,1994, lot 189).


Interlude
To Danny from Modesty

Modesty hesitated, then stood up. ‘All right, I won't be a moment.’ Modesty returned and put something in Sir Gerald Tarrant's hand [a slim Breguet watch]. He stared down at the splendidly proportioned timepiece with pleasure. ‘A Breguet surely? My dear, it's one of the most beautiful things I've ever seen.’ ‘I gave it to a man a long time ago.’ She smiled briefly. ‘This same watch. A sort of farewell present…’ Sir Gerald flicked the thin gold disc open and read the inscription: To Danny from Modesty.


Thomas Engel: Breguet & the Dr. Halpern Affair

Uhren sind ein faszinierendes Gebiet. Wenn sie sprechen könnte, hätte jede eine Geschichte zu erzählen. thomas engel

For the full-story of the Halpern Affair please see «Thomas Engel, Ein moderner Thomas Edison, Die Biografie» [02, pg. 183–147]; the story is also recounted in «Watchmaker to Kings».

To make a long story short (apocryphal or not): Thomas Engel travels to New York City to purchase ≈dozen Breguet watches from Dr. Mark Halpern; the arrangement between the gentlemen was fait accompli or so thought Thomas Engel: after Cognac and at the 11th hour the good doctor reneges on the deal…the watches are like children to him and his wife…

Zurn Kaffee gingen wir zurück ins Wohnzimmer. Ich zog den Scheck aus der Tasche und legte ihn auf den Tisch. Beide waren auf einmal schweigsam. Ich bemerkte plötzlich Tränen in den Augen von Frau Halpern. "Ich muss Ihnen sagen, Herr Engel, dass wir es uns anders überlegt haben. Wir wollen die Uhren nicht verkaufen. Sie sind für uns wie Kinder." [02, pg. 143].

Seth Atwood (1917–2010, American industrialist and collector) proposes a gentleman agreement: Atwood himself will negotiate the purchase of the Halpern Breguets and Thomas Engel & Seth Atwood will divide the watches between themselves with Edgar Mannheimer traveling to New York to serve as arbitrator—the toss of a coin will determine who will have first choice of watch…

…können, teilen wir die Uhren unter uns auf." "Das hört sich gut an. Ich wäre damit einverstanden, aber wie soll dann die Teilung vor sich gehen?" fragte Atwood. "Nun", sagte ich. "Ich könnte mir ein ,Salomonisches Urteil' vorstellen. Wir werfen eine Münze. Der eine hat die Zahl, der andere das Bild. Wer gewinnt, nimmt sich die erste Uhr seiner Wahl, der andere die zweite und so weiter. [02, pg. 145].

The gentleman agreement completed Seth Atwood returns to Chicago with his Breguets and Edgar Mannheimer returns to Europe with Thomas Engel's Breguets. Seth Atwood's Breguets find a home in The Time Museum and ultimately are auctioned by Sotheby's in 1999 and 2004. Breguet No. 3862 (astronomical watch) and Breguet No. 2627 (montre à tact) formerly belonging to Dr. Halpern were included in the Sotheby sales, respectively lot 21 (1999) and lot 578 (2004).

★ n.b. Breguet No. 2783 «The Time Museum An Introduction [63, pg. 21] minute-repeating, self-winding with thermometer and winding-state belonging to Seth Atwood—the watch may have come from Dr. Halpern but not explictly noted as such. Curiously: Breguet No. 2783 appears in a 2014 Christie's auction (lot 293) but with a different dial.

Thomas Engel wonders what Dr. Halpern would think of the Sotheby's auction result of the astronomical watch Breguet No. 3862…

…die astronomische Breguet-Uhr, die er [Seth Atwood] damals von Halpern für 52 000 Dollar gekauft hatte. Sie wurde für 1,2 Millionen Dollar versteigert. Was Dr. Halperndazu wohl sagen würde?

Which Breguets from the Dr. Halpern collection did Edgar Mannheimer bring back to Frankfurt? Thomas Engel does not provide descriptions of the watches and mentions the watches were formerly unknown to himself as the timepieces were neither from the David Salomons collection nor appeared in any recent auctions…

Typisch für "Breguet": Die Uhren waren alle deutlich unterschiedlich. Nicht nur vom Design her, sondem auch wegen der Komplikationen wie Datum, Kalender, Mondphasen, Equation und alles, was man sich nur vorstellen kann. Die Beschreibungen best&aumk;tigten mir dann, dass es tatsächlich original "Breguets" waren. Woher mag er sie wohl haben? lch glaubte doch, jede :Breguet", die in den vergangenen Jahren angeboten worden war, zu kennen. Sie stammten auch nicht aus der Salomon-Sammlung. Wirklich sehr ungewöhnlich! [02, pg. 140].

…the author resigns himself to the mystery.


Interlude
Space is the place—Sun Ra

Another place in the universe, up under different stars
That would be where the alter-destiny would come in
Equation wise, the first thing to do is to consider time as officially ended
We work on the other side of time


Thomas Engel & Breguet Ottoman Cabriolets

Ateş kadar kırmızı bir bal kabı!

Three Breguet Ottoman-market watches featured in Thomas Engel's «Watchmaker to Kings»: Breguet No. 2961 “The Inconnu”: quarter repeater on gongs, double enamel case and enamel Turkish dial, flowers by “Seguin”, Breguet No. 2077 “The king of Spain”, circa 1808 (TE Collection), sonnerie-minute-repeater and Breguet No. 2810 “The Leroy”, circa 1814, quarter repeater. Breguet's Ottoman watches are typically: cabriolet-cased, white, enameled Turkish dials with radient, enameled cases, often Turkish red. Eight of the thirty-three Breguets displayed in «Watchmaker to Kings» are Ottoman watches so it may be guessed Thomas Engel had an appreciation for the “Ottoman” Breguets and their scarlet brilliance…

Their colors are striking. In looking at translucent red enamel you would think it was a glass of red Bordeaux. No one knows how they did it 200 years ago. I have done considerable research myself in trying to capture this particular red for my enameled tourbillons, but I was unable to produce it. (Thomas Engel: Warum Taschenuhren).

Thomas Engel's Breguet No. 1320 “The Leroy Constantinople” circa 1804, dumb (à toc) quarter repeating watch, case by Tavernier, dial by Borel: uncased as shown in «Watchmaker to Kings» and cased as shown in the Antiquorum Thomas Engel sale (lot 318). French watchmaker Leroy was Breguet's representative in Constantinople. The watch was sold to Esseid Ali Effendi on the behalf of Beykan Sultan. Breguet No. 1320 was included in the 2010 exhibit «Breguet ve Osmanli İmparatorluğu» at the Topkapi Palace Museum in Instanbul [18, pg. 23].

A non-Breguet Ottoman watch owned by Thomas Engel: Markwick Markham quarter-repeating watch (Markwick Markham & Perigal were watchmakers specialising in exporting watches to the Ottoman Empire). To meet the demand for the “Turkish-style” watches less expensive watches were made under the name Le Roy élève de Breguet: pictured below is an example from the David Salomons Collection at the Museum for Islamic Art in Jerusalem.

Thomas Engel collection: Oriental Harbor: Markwick Markham, Perigal, London, No. 41618 (made for the Islamic market), circa 1814. triple-cased, quarter-repeating watch with verge escapement. The watch was lot 286 in the 2001 Antiquorum Thomas Engel Collection Part I Sale; (the watch also appears in an April, 2006 Antiquorum sale, lot 128).

Le Roy élève de Breguet No. 5967. Quarter repeating watch for the Turkish market, circa 1840. Gold, with enamel, floral decoration to the bezels and polychrome painted urn of flowers. Repeating button in the pendant. George Daniels & Ohames Markarian [11, pg. 116].

Two “Turkish” watches belonging to the Hans Wilsdorf collection…

A “Turkish” watch of the mid-eighteenth century. Movement signed “Rundell and Bridge, London”. Watches intended for Turkey often had two or three cases to protect them from being crushed by pistols worn in the belt. (Collection Hans Wilsdorf. [58, pg. 22]).

Breguet circa 1820. Montre en or émaillé, heures turgues, deux boîtiers, signée Breguet et Fils, Collection H. Wilsdorf. (A.-L. Breguet pendant la révolution [08, pg. 6]).


Interlude
Magical Thinking

Each minute bursts in the burning room, / The great globe reels in the solar fire, / Spinning the trivial and unique away.
(How all things flash! How all things flare!) / What am I now that I was then? / May memory restore again and again
The smallest color of the smallest day: / Time is the school in which we learn, / Time is the fire in which we burn.

—Delmore Schwartz (1913–1966): Calmly We Walk through This April's Day


Thomas Engel, Theodor Beyer & Breguet No. 455

Thomas Engel recounts in «Watchmaker to Kings» Engel's first Breguet purchase (circa 1964) from Edgar Mannheimer…

I bought my first Breguet from Mr. Edgar Mannheimer, the prominent watch dealer of Zurich. I had heard both of him and his fascination for Breguet watches…He [Mannheimer] produced a most exquisite watch complete with gold case, enamel dial, Turkish numbering, verge escapement (very unusually, the verge movement) and fusee and chain, all in perfect condition. My first Breguet. Oh, la, la quelle excitement!

The watch purchased from Edgar Mannheimer was Breguet No. 455; the watch appeared in the 1976 Musée International d'Horlogerie: L'Oeuvre d'Abraham-Louis Breguet (Vitrine 13, No. 6); picture from «The Art of Breguet» [06, figure 136].

Breguet No. 455. Montre or. Cadan émail à chiffres turcs. Signature secrète en arabe et en dessous en turc. Fusée et chaîne, échappement à verge, dispositif parachute. On ne connaît de Breguet que peu de pièces avec échappement à verge. ⌀ 55mm. Collection Thomas Engel (RFA): Musée International d'Horlogerie [13, pg. 52].

According to Uhrenmuseum Beyer archives Breguet No. 455 was sold to Edgar Mannheimer by Theodor René Beyer (1926–2002) and re-sold to Thomas Engel soon after. In a March, 1989 Neue Zürich Zeitung article Theodor Beyer tells of his regret in selling such a rare Breguet with a verge movement: “I would pay any price if I could buy it back”—in the 1980s Theodor Beyer purchased a similar Breguet with verge movement: Breguet No. 898 which hopefully assuaged the regret…

Beyer war früher im Besitz einer Taschenuhr mit Spindelhemmung für den türkischen Markt, um 1802, die mit "Breguet & Fils" signiert war. Die Uhr mit türkischen Ziffern und einem interessanten, feuervergoldeten Werk hatte zudem unter der 12 des Emailzifferblattes die Geheimsignatur Breguet in türkischer Schrift und den Vermerk "Et. Mixte", (Breguet Etablissement mixte). Da Beyer, auch auf Grund der verfügbaren Literatur, davon ausging, dass Breguet keine Werke mit Spindelhemmung gebaut hatte - die Technik war damals bereits weiter fortgeschritten -, war er der Ansicht, es handle sich hier um eine Fälschung. Und so verkaurte er das Objekt vor etwa 15 Jahren einem Händler "für einen Pappenstiel". Der Käufer veräusserte die Uhr für teures Geld an einen Freund Beyers, der sich später nicht mehr, von dem guten Stück trennen wollte. Denn um ein solches handelte es sich in der Tat! Wie sich später heraustellte, hatte Breguet, wohl im Sinne eines Experimentes, zwei derartige Uhren mit Spindelhemmung konstruiert. Und nun ist es Theodor Beyer an einer Auktion in Paris gelungen, die zweite derartige Uhr von Breguet zu erwerben. (Neue Zürich Zeitung, March 29, 1989, page 55).

Picture credit: Pocket Watch No 898, Breguet Etablissement mixte, c 1802, Paris. Foto: Dominique Cohas, Paris © Zurich Beyer Clock and Watch Museum

Thomas Engel upon reading the Neue Zürich Zeitung article relates in «Watchmaker to Kings»…

It was with happiness and pride that I lifted the telephone to call Mr. Beyer and tell him that his dream watch [Breguet No. 455] has been in my collection since he [Beyer] sold it. I also had to tell him that I would never part with [the watch].

The Paris auction mentioned in the Neue Zürich Zeitung article must have been the June, 1988 Hervé Chayette-Laurence Calmels, Horolgerie de collection sale…

Breguet no. 898: Montre en argent pour le marché cure signee 'Etablissement mixte Breguet No. 898, vers 1802. Cadran en émail signé "Breguet er Fils" et la signature secrète 'Et. Mixte Breguet No. 898', chiffres turcs, aiguilles en acier bleui; cuvette en argent signée et numérotée; mouvement en laiton doré signé, avec fusée inversé et barillec suspendu, échappement à verge avec les palettes empierrées, balancier simple à trois bras, parachute; boîtier en argent guilloché, carrure cannelée, charnières en or. D. 50mm. Provenance: Collection Cecil Clutton. (Chayette, Paris, 1988, lot 51).


Interlude
Time is the only real critic—Francis Bacon

★ n.b. The collage of Breguet watches from the Time Museum (Seth Atwood) appeared on the cover of the May, 1985 Smithsonian Magazine.


Alfred Helwig's 1927 Flying Tourbillon

Alfred Helwig's 1927 tourbillon is Mozart's Jupiter forged into gold. adam ant, melody maker january 12, 1980

Alfred Helwig (1886–1974) …the man who knows more about Breguet than anyone else of this generation. thomas engel «watchmaker to kings»

Thomas Engel relates in his autobiography the re-discovery of among the greatest German tourbillons ever made, Alfred Helwig's tour de force 1927 (No. 17) Flying Tourbillon which its creater had thought was lost to the winds of war…

Über viele Jahre fragte ich in Geschäften, Märkten und über Annoncen nach einem Tourbillon, aber nichts zu machen. Eines Tages rief mich ein Uhrmacher aus Osnabrück an und sagte, er habe einen 4-Minuten-Tourbillon zu verkaufen…Einige Tage später kam mit der Post ein Paket in der Größe eines Schuhkartons. Sorgfältig in Schaum verpackt fand ich eine goldene Taschenuhr. Als ich den Rückdeckel öffnete sah ich zu meinem Erstaunen das Juwel eines 1-Minuten-Tourbillons vor mir. Aber nicht nur das. Es war signiert “Alfred Helwig 1927 Uhrmacherschule Glashütte, Sachsen”.

Thomas Engel after the serendipitous rather miraculous unearthing of a horological diamond writes to Alfred Helwig in Glashütte (then the East Zone of the GDR) announcing the discovery of the No. 17 tourbillon; Helwig delighted replies: “Es ist schon zu wissen, dass mein Tourbillon in guten Handen ist.” Thomas Engel upon visting (the now 80-year-old) Helwig and showing him his own magnum opus retells…

Ich zog seine Uhr aus der Tasche. Seine Augen blitzten. Er nahm die Lupe, ging ans Fenster und studierte das Tourbillon. Halb drehte er seinen Kopf zu seiner Frau und sagte: “Emma, ich war doch ein toller Bursche!"

I took his [Helwig's] watch out of my pocket. His eyes flashed. He took the magnifying glass, went to the window, and studied the tourbillon. He half turned his head to his wife and said, “Emma, I was a great guy!”

★ n.b. Please see Thomas Engel's autobiography pages 200–202 and «Watchmaker to Kings» page 200 for the full story of Thomas Engel's purchase of the Helwig 1927 tourbillon. The No. 17 tourbillion was sold for CHF 828,500 in 2001 as lot 334 of the Antiquorum Thomas Engel sale.

Alfred Helwig's No. 17 flying-tourbillon was made for Professor Ernst von Bassermann-Jordan (1879–1932) in 1927, a one-minute tourbillon and the first-prize winner of the 1932-33 Deutschen Seewarte Timing Contest. Alfred Helwig reminisces about the 1927 tourbillon…

I remember Nr. 17 very well. It was my masterpiece, which I made for Prof. Bassermann-Jordan. He took it into his big hands, looked at it and said: 'This is the watch after which the God set the sun!'.alfred helwig on No. 17

★ n.b. Ernst von Bassermann-Jordan (1879–1932) was a German art historian, watch collector and horological author—The History of the Wheel-Clock, 1905, The history of time measurement and clocks, 1920 and The Clock of Philip the Good of Burgundy, 1927. Bassermann-Jordan's extensive collection of clocks was bequeathed to the Bavarian National Museum.

The Girl Book Next Door: Thomas Engel relates in «Watchmaker to Kings» a seemingly futile search for Alfred Helwig's 1927 book «Drehganguhren (tourbillons und karusselluhren)»…

[Alfred] Helwig had published a book about Tourbillons which was published in only a limited edition. I had been hunting for a copy without success for many years; regretfully Helwig did not have a spare one. However, he gave me the address of one of his former pupils, Apels, who told me that his daughter, living in Heusenstamm, Germany, Niederroderweg 10, had a copy. In those days I lived in the same town, same street, number 12! So after a long search, I found my book in the house next door and I am pleased to say it now resides on my bookshelf. («Watchmaker to Kings»).

★ n.b. Breguetsches Tourbillon mit dem Drehgestell auf dem Zwischenrade: in the book Alfred Helwig describes in detail Breguet No. 2514 (silver dial, 76mm, 6-minute tourbillon, on the dial: Regulateur a Tourbillon & Breguet et. Fils, inside the watch: Breguet Horloger de la Marine Royale, Paris No. 2514, the back-cover is engraved with an equation of time table).

★ n.b. The author assumes the Apels mentioned by Thomas Engel is Alfred Helwig's student Hans Apel (1905–1958); pictured is Hans Apel's graduation watch made at the Deutsche Uhrmacherschule Glashuette, circa 1925: silver case, enamel dial, 3⁄4 plate frosted gilt movement (Dr. Crott Auctioneers sale # 85 lot 41). Hans Apel's 1926 (Special No. 9) one-minute tourbillon No. 3374 (B&W image) is one of the stars of the Clock and Watch Museum Beyer in Zurich (Apel's No. 9 is featured in Reinhard Meis' «Pocket Watches from the Pendant Watch to the Tourbillon» [53, pg. 309]).


Interlude
It is a tale Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury,
Signifying nothing.—Macbeth

Shakespeare's Macbeth very well could have been referring to the modern watch review though even in Shakespeare's time the “watch review” was a shallow exercise in pomposity and hubris, e.g. snippets of Wyllm Catchpole's unpregnant (in the parlance of his time) account of a clock-watch by Michael Nouwen (1571–1613)…the watch now resides in the Metropolitan Museum of Art and Wyllm Catchpole resides in the ground.

The gold filigree remindeth thou of the beste silk of Cathay, the enuy of thine frends…the clock is wanteth of a minute-hand but what beest minutes to a gentlemanne…thank thee Saviour thou neither axeman n'r ale-draper lest the clock perchance beest above thy life's lot…leave the plowman to measure his toil by the arc of the sunne like the oxe whilst thee Lordship and his Peers wile hence the hours on golden clocks by the herth (Wyllm Catchpole, London 1605).

The gold filigree remindeth thou of the beste silk of Cathay, the enuy of thine frends…the clock is wanteth of a minute-hand but what beest minutes to a gentlemanne…thank thee Saviour thou neither axeman n'r ale-draper lest the clock perchance beest above thy life's lot…leave the plowman to measure his toil by the arc of the sunne like the oxe whilst thee Lordship and his Peers wile hence the hours on golden clocks by the herth (Wyllm Catchpole, London 1605).

Twenty score years after Shakespeare the “modern” watch review is just as shallow: always superficial, often supercilious, laden with Proustian puffery, flowing from haughty, third-tier Ruskins starving their soul to stuff their belly—táhněte do hájé.


Christie's Sir David Salomons Part 3 Sale November, 1965

November, 1965: twenty Breguet watches made up the third part of The Celebrated Collection of Watches by Breguet formed by the late Sir David Salomons—the group of Breguets included eight repeating watches and a tourbillon—with the assistence of Edgar Mannheimer (1925–1993) Thomas Engel purchased all twenty watches as Thomas Engel relates in his autobiography «Thomas Engel, Ein moderner Thomas Edison, Die Biografie» (pages 113–114)…

Am Tage der Versteigerung trafen wir uns im Saal von Christie's, King Street. Die Nacht zuvor hatte ich auf White Lodge verbracht, um auch den Rat von Cyril zu hören. Eddi Mannheimer saß neben mir. "Ich werde Dich mit dem Knie anstoßen, wenn ich kaufen will, okay?" sagte ich. "Kein Problem", sagte er, und dann lief alles ab wie im Märchen. Von den ersten zehn Exemplaren hatte ich durch die "Knietechnik" bereits alle zehn Stück gekauft, als es zu einem harten Gefecht mit einem Händler kam. Jedesmal, wenn der überbot, bekam Eddie mein Knie zu spüren. Letztlich hatte ich den ganzen Katalog aufgekauft. Ich bezahlte Eddi seine Kommission. Er war stolz, so sehr ins Gespräch gekommen zu sein als bedeutendster Händler für alte Uhren. Abends saß ich wieder mit Cyril zusammen. Wir teilten die Uhren untereinander auf, und so war jeder glücklich.

From the Part III sale: Breguet No. 3012 (Salomons collection No. 21), circa 1818 monte à ancre, Breguet No. 119 (Salomons collection No. 7), circa 1798 montre à répétition, Breguet No. 3624 (Salomons collection No. 63), circa 1821 montre à souscription and Breguet No. 2568, circa 1818 tourbillon (n.b. David Salomons purchased No. 2568 in 1923 thus the watch does not appear in Salomons' book Breguet 1747–1823 but the watch does appear in the 1923 Centenaire de A.-L. Breguet exhibition under the Salomons collection [07, pg. 28]).

★ n.b. Edgar Mannheimer played an oversized role in Thomas Engel's Breguet pursuits, facilitating the acquisition of many fine watches for the collector: born 1925 in Neutitschein, Moravia Edgar Mannheimer was a larger-than-life (literally and figuretivly as the author has been told) antique dealer specializing in watches and clocks and by all accounts a warm person (despite war's tribulations) and trusted friend (despite humanity's betrayal)—Thomas Engel fondly recalls 3–4 anecdotes of their Breguet adventures in his autobiography «Ein moderner Thomas Edison, Die Biografie».

The author can only see in the mind's eye the gems that must have passed through the hands of Edgar Mannheimer…for example Breguet No. 60 Edgar Mannheimer purchased at the Sotheby's 1978 Edward Hornby Collection sale for £57,000 and most likely then sold to German businessman Erivan Haub (1932-2018).

Breguet No. 60: sold 1796. Perpetuelle, quarter repeating, parachute suspension, silver engine-turned dial containing aperture for the day of the week, age and phase of the moon and state of winding. («The Art of Breguet» [06, pg. 156]).

Two minute-repeaters from the Christie's Part III sale: Breguet No. 2934, circa 1817, half-quarter repeater with jump-hours and Breguet No. 2183, circa 1810, quarter repeater with jump-hours.

According to Thomas Engel's autobiography Thomas Engel purchased with the assistance of Edgar Mannheimer one Breguet each from the Christie's Part I (December, 1964) and Part II (June, 1965) sales—the Breguet purchased from the Part I sale is unknown to the author and the author is only guessing the Breguet from Part II may have been Breguet No. 4238 (lot # 38) since the watch was in the Thomas Engel collection in 1976 [13, pg. 29].

In der Zwischenzeit hatten die ersten beiden Auktionen bei Christie's in London stattgefunden. Die jeweils zwanzig Breguet-Exemplare waren in wenigen Minuten unter dem Hammer. Eine "Breguet" konnte ich bei der ersten, eine andere bei der zweiten Auktion durch Herrn Mannheimer aus Zürich kaufen. «Thomas Engel, Ein moderner Thomas Edison, Die Biografie» (page 113).


Interlude
It's About Time

‘It's About Time’ is probably at the top of my list for a Desert Island.derek pratt, «a true whirlwind?» horological journal, may 2000

Major Paul Mellon Chamberlain's (1865–1940) book «It's About Time» is simply one of the most well-regarded horological books of the 20th century authored by one of the most learned watch collectors of any century—though the book can be technical the language is congenial even to a novice like the present author. Paul Chamberlain's Breguet 294 circa 1793, quarter-hour repeater (presumably Chamberlain's 2nd watch collection) whose movement is detailed in the book…

Human and brave, ingenious and resourceful, artist and artisan to whom mediocrity was unknown, Breguet shines as a star of the first magnitude, an inspiration to all lovers of the beautiful and the good.paul chamberlain, «it's about time», page 367

★ n.b. Paul Chamberlain assembled two major watch collections in his lifetime of which a selection of the earlier collection (200+ timepieces) was presented in the 1921 publication: Watches-The Paul M. Chamberlain Collection at the Art Institute of Chicago; the collection featured watches by: Thomas Mudge, John Arnold, Thomas Tompion & George Graham. Aside from three “false Breguets” and a recased Breguet there is one “original” Breguet listed, plated and described in a depth often lacking by collectors in describing their watches…

Ruby cylinder by “Breguet et Fils” on dial and “Breguet 2089” on inner cap and movement. Plain gold case stamped R2089. 923, diamond shield enclosing GM and part of a crescent, cherub's head with figure 2, two stamps nearly obliterated in polishing, one appears to have been a head and the other a circle open on one side and the letter B in one side of enclosure…The dial is fastened with one screw underneath the figure 12 and between screw and figure is Breguet's “trademark” scratched by an automatic machine in the enamel in almost microscopic letters in script Breguet and the number of the movement. The balance is of brass and the balance spring has an 8 coils flat spiral…The top pivot jewel is carried by a "parachute" to absorb any shock which might otherwise break the pivot. The lower pivot is carried by a steel potence projecting into the cylinder which is of ruby and hangs down below pivot… The workmanship is beautiful and the proportions of the entire watch are very elegant. Made about 1810. [45, collection # 153].

Major Chamberlain has probably forgotten more about watchwork than I am ever likely to know.lt.-commander r. t. gould, author of the marine chronometer, its history and development


Thomas Engel & Breguet Pendule de Voyage

Always enormously expensive and complicated, often made only to special order, the Breguet clocks evince an innate superiority in conception, design and execution which is difficult to convey in words. Breguet was without question the most versatile horologist in history. It is not surprising that his pendules de voyage were both the first and the best ever made in France.charles allix, «carriage clocks: their history and development», page 37

Breguet No. 179, certificate no. 2889, eight-day, carriage clock circa 1796, sold 1804 to Ferdinand IV of Naples. The 1976 L'Oeuvre d'Abraham-Louis Breguet exhibit attributes the clock to the collection of Thomas Engel. Charles Allix (1921–2015) says of Breguet No. 179 in «Carriage Clocks: Their History and Development» [57, pg. 37–41]: All evidence points to the fact that No. 179 is the earliest known Breguet pendule de voyage in its original state.

Breguet No. 179 (Vitrine 11, No. 4). Petite montre de voyage à boîte dorée, cadran argent guilloché, répétition à quarts, calendrier, phases de lune et réveil…Etui d'origine. C'est la première montre de voyage faite par Breguet (1796). Vendue en 1804 à S.M. François de Bourbon, roi de Naples. Collection Thomas Engel (RFA): Musée International d'Horlogerie [13, pg. 52].

Provenance Breguet No. 179: Sold to S.M. François de Bourbon, King of Naples, in 1804 for 4000 Francs. Breguet certificate No. 2889 states the the clock was made in 1796 and was sold 1804. • The S.E.Prestige Collection, Sotheby's London 29th April 1968, lot 5. • Auktionhaus Ineichen, Zurich, 22 May 1989, lot 132. • Christies London, 8 July 2010, lot 98. • Bonhams London, 11 December 2019, lot 106. [It's unknown to the author when Thomas Engel bought & sold the clock].

★ n.b. Breguet No. 179 was included in a set of eight Breguet carriage clocks in the Bonhams, London December, 2019 Fine Clocks sale: pictured are Breguet Nos. 2963 (sold Madame la Marquise de Downshire 1821), 2898 (sold M. Gerugross 1816), 2516 (sold Baron de Blome 1811) & 4768 (sold Princess Bagration 1837)…

The following eight lots represent the finest collection of Breguet carriage clocks anywhere in the world. The collection has been formed with the keenest eye for rarity, condition and quality. It encompasses almost every complication that Breguet devised for his travelling clocks, including his perpetual calendar mechanism, phases and ages of the moon, alarm, grande sonnerie, petite sonnerie, quarter and half-quarter repeating, and even equation of time (Bonhams December 2019 sale catalog, page 76).

★ n.b. Breguet No. 179 is similar to Breguet No. 178 sold to Napolean Bonaparte in 1798; Breguet No. 178 is in the collection of Musée National Suisse (Château de Prangins) and featured in the Sigrid Pallmert's «Breguet-ein Schweizer in Paris = Breguet-un Suisse à Paris» [17, pg. 12–18].

★ n.b. There exists another Breguet No. 179 which resides in the David Salomons Collection at the Museum for Islamic Art in Jerusalem, the watch is documented in the George Daniels & Ohames Markarian book [11, pg. 45] and described by David Salomons in «Breguet 1747–1823»…

No. 65. Certificate No. 2496. Watch No. 179. Sold to the Queen (Marie-Antoinette), 4th September, 1792, for 960 frances. Plain gold savonette case, no glass over dial, quarter repeater, uncompensated. Verge escapement, enamelled dial, steel hands, fusee. N.B.—This watch the Queen gave to her brother-in-law, the Comte d'Artois, later Charles X., and he wore it till his death.

Thomas Engel No. 001 carriage clock with perpetual calendar, moon-phases and equation of time, circa 1980. The case is an original Breguet gilt, tooled green Morocco leather travelling case that serendipitously accommodates the clock to a T.

Thomas Engel No. 001. Dial: silvered, engine-turned centre, power reserve indication for 8 days, apertures for day, date and month, moon-phase sector with equation hand, centre seconds, engine-turned gilt surround with silvered plaque No. 001, Movement: skeletonised, spring barrel and club tooth lever escapement, bi-metallic compensation balance, micrometer-regulation. Dimensions: 15cm height, dial 114.3mm diameter (4.5 inches). (Sotheby's 2019).

Similarly-styled carriage clock hand-drawn by A.-L. Breguet («Breguet-Watchmakers since 1775» [36, pg. 159]).


Interlude
Musée Galliera Centenaire de A.L. Breguet 1747–1823
Exposition de son œuvre d'horlogerie et de chronométrie

The centenary of the death of A.-L. Breguet was celebrated October–November 1923 with a major exhibition of Breguet's œuvre held at the Musée Galliera in Paris—buttressed by Sir David Salomons contribution of ≈100 watches the exhibition included ≈260 Breguet timepieces including Breguet No. 160 “Marie Antoinette” & Breguet No. 92 “Duc de Praslin” from the David Salomons collection. Thomas Engel's Breguet No. 2292 montre à tact was included in the 1923 exhibition [07, pg. 19], one of the very few watches pictured in the Musée Galliera catalogue.

★ n.b. A score and ten references related to the Breguet Centenaire can be found in the bibliography of «L'Oeuvre d'Abraham-Louis Breguet: Catalogue de l'exposition. Musée International d'Horlogerie» [13] notably: «Centenaire de A.-L. Breguet. Congress National de Chronometrie» and «Compte-rendu des manifestations du centenaire d'A.-L. Breguet».

A handful of watches from the Musée Galliera centenaire exposition: Breguet No. 2664 garde-temps, circa 1816 (exhibit # 17), Breguet No. 4215 souscription, circa 1826 (exhibit # 9), Breguet No. 24 quarter-repeater, jump-hour, circa 1798 (exhibit # 245), Breguet No. 2489 grande et petite sonnerie, circa 1820 (exhibit # 16) and Breguet No. 1615 perpétuelle, repeater, circa 1815 (exhibit # 108, one of only a score of watches pictured in the Musée Galliera catalogue and lent to the exhibition by Baron de Rothschild).

Breguet No. 3552 (exhibit # 214 but not pictured), listed as: Petite répétition d'or plate, à 1/2 quarts, équation du temps, calendrier, double boîte savonnette en or. Vendue au Marquis d'Hertfort, le 26 septembre 1825. Fr. 9.000; lent to the exposition by A.-M. Scott Esq.—watch picture from «A. L. Breguet, Horologer» [20, pg. 22]. Breguet No. 3907 (exhibit # 24 but not pictured), listed as: Souscription en argent, échappement à cylindre de rubis; lent to the exposition by Henry Brown (Breguet helmsman from 1912 to 1927)—watch picture from the collection of Jean-Claude Sabrier (Chayette & Cheval, May 2015).


George Daniels: Thomas Engel Tourbillon

George Daniels (1926–2011) tourbillon “made for(?)” Thomas Engel (sold to 1974). The watch is No. 7 of Daniels' early series of eight tourbillons circa 1969–1973, of the eight watches only No. 7 has a power-reserve indicator making the watch readily recognizable. The watch is described and entitled “The Engel” in Michael Clerizo's book [48, pg. 70]. Here is the auction description from Antiquorum…

George Daniels, London, No. TE, specially made for Thomas Engel in 1973. Very elegant and unique 18 ct. gold pocket chronometer with twin barrel, chronometer escapement, one minute tourbillon regulator, retrograde jumping hours and power reserve indication…the [case] back centered with the monogram “T.E.”, the band engraved: “Made by George Daniels for Thomas Engel in mutual esteem of”—(Antiquorum, Geneva, Hotel Des Bergues, Oct 21, 1995, lot 258).

From the Michael Clerizo book [48, pg. 121] “Engel infuriated Daniels by engraving on the case band: ‘Made by George Daniels for Thomas Engel in mutual esteem of A.L. Breguet’.” Decades later [Daniels still roiled] with resentment at Thomas Engel's faux pa

I did not make the watch for him [Engel]. I wore the watch for nearly two years before I sold it to him. Of course I esteem Breguet, but that is not the reason I made the watch. george daniels

George Daniels' pique regarding the “defacing” of the timepiece may have matched Picasso's ire when in 1939 after giving Matisse a copy of the etching The Minotaur's Repose Matisse penciled on the print: Made by Picasso for Matisse in mutual esteem for the Minotaur—upon discovering Matisse's graffiti Picasso reportedly exclaimed Que te folle un pez.


Interlude
Stradivarius

Stradivarius brought the craft of violin-making to its highest pitch of perfection, a perfection which has not been exceeded since… Breguet did the same for horology. In the author's [Engel] view, Breguet's achievements were greater. He [Breguet] not only brought the known art to the ultimate peak of perfection as did Stradivarius, he also developed and invented to produce new and improved forms of the same art. thomas engel breguet: watchmaker to kings

Antonio Stradivarius “The Lyall” & Breguet “The Orloff” (photo: Watchmaker to Kings [01, pg. 7]), Antonio Stradivarius “Francesca” & Breguet “The Castellane” and Antonio Stradivarius “Gould” & Breguet “The Davidoff” (all watches featured Thomas Engel's «Watchmaker to Kings»).


Sir David Salomons Breguet 1747–1823

Back in London [1956] he [Cyril Rosedale] instructed the chauffeur to pass by Malcolm Gardner horological bookshop. There he bought a copy of David Salomons' “Breguet” and handed it over to me saying “I think you will enjoy reading it and looking at all the pictures”. From that moment I was hooked.thomas engel: warum taschenuhren

The book that ensnared Thomas Engel needless to note is Sir David Salomons «Breguet 1747–1823»—a recitation of Breguet's life and a recital of Salomons' collection of ≈100 Breguet timepieces. Rupert T. Gould says in «The Marine Chronometer» “Those wishing to learn more about [Breguet]…should consult Sir David Salomons' beautiful monograph…” [50, pg. 128]…self-published 1921 (1923 French) in two volumes (proper & supplement) in a limited edition of 1,000 copies: proper volume ≈240 pages and the supplement ≈50 pages (pagination from author's copy), all watches displayed true to size.

A gem of the collection Breguet No. 92 “Duc de Praslin” two-sided watch (gift to Musée des Arts et Métiers & described «A.-L. Breguet pendant la révolution» [08, pg. 97–99]) and Breguet No. 3872 quarter-repeating watch, circa 1825, property of Sir David Salomons, property of Thomas Engel & featured in Daniels' «Art of Breguet» [06, pg. 261]. The Salomons' Breguet collection was eventually halved: ≈half donated to the L.A. Mayer Institute for Islamic Art (Jerusalem) and the remainder sold by Christie's 1964–1965 [10] (3-part sale catalog of 60 Breguet timepieces). Breguet No. 3872 was lot 59 in the Christie's sale.

★ n.b. Breguet No. 92 “Duc de Praslin” was featured in the 2004 exhibition “Breguet in the Hermitage” courtesy Musée des Arts et Métiers [12, pg. 150–152].

★ n.b. In October, 2020 three David Salomons Breguet watches from the Museum for Islamic Art in Jerusalem were scheduled to be deaccessioned and sold by Sotheby's, namely No. 20-148, No. 2788 and No. 1806; each of the watches are pictured with their page from the Salomons book, respectively No. 6, No. 16 and No. 3 as numbered in Salomons' collection—at the 11th hour the sale was halted; at the date of this article the fate of the watches is unclear to the author.

The author's copy of the Salomons Breguet book is the 1921 edition with separate supplement in now faded, baby-blue wraps. Pictured are the book's celebrities: from the supplement “Marie Antoinette” No. 160 (Supplement No. 103 and collection No. 56) & No. 92 “Duc de Praslin” (collection No. 57). Much to the chagrin of many but not to the author a previous owner (or their child) drew pictures of clocks in the supplement.

A person can lament the Salomons book and the Christie's sale catalog only having black & white pictures of the Breguets but as a fan of Rembrandt and Henry Moore prints the author finds the B&W pictures charming; the books are not about color-field-abstraction and many of the modern, glossy books are overwrought and of ephemeral regard.

It is one of my habits to carry a Breguet watch in my pocket at all times. Not so much for reading the time, because I have a wristwatch for that. No, it is more for the feeling of having that treasure in my pocket, to hear its tick…thomas engel


Interlude
Auguste Rodin vs. Jeff Koons

Smash the control images—Smash the control machine.william s. burroughs, the soft machine

Lifetime Breguet and contemporary corporate horology: A.-L. Breguets speak for themselves whereas modern horology employs a fifth-column of truth-shy myth-makers: ballyhoo Balzacs championing the middling and meaningless with rosy prose fit for a horological hagiography to satiate the watch-hungry philistines unable to discern a petite-madeleine from a dog-biscuit and to slake the thirst for horological mediocrity with Champale that the mob laps up like Champagne…horology reached its meridian ten-score years ago—apart from the recherché refuge of beauty & brillance it seems unlikely the Breguet belle epoque will be repeated much less eclipsed by any watch brand, even its namesake.

Beauty is truth, truth beauty
—that is all
Ye know on earth, and all ye need to know.
— John Keats

Oh we're so pretty
Oh so pretty
We're vacant
Oh we're so pretty
Oh so pretty
We're Vacant
— The Sex Pistols


Thomas Engel Collection Part 1

My passion has always been collecting watches.thomas engel, frankfurter allgemeine zeitung

Thomas Engel attained the horological triumvirate: horological author, watchmaker and collector of timepieces—such a collection is seldom mustered—the items listed in the “Collection Part I” included 17 Breguet timepieces, ≈70 sundry Breguet-related documents & sketches, three Albert Potter pocket-watches, eleven marine chronometers etc. Prefacing the catalog is an essay by Thomas Engel entitled “Warum Tasschenuhren?”

★ n.b. Originally Thomas Engel wished to build a “Zeitmuseum” to house his watch collection in Heusenstamm, Germany but the project failed due to a property-rights issue adjacent to the proposed site of the museum of which the details can be read in the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung article (October 2000) “The clock has run out for the 'Museum of Time'”—Thomas Engel in the preface of the Antiquorum sale catalog laments the unrealized museum, resigning: “So endete das 'Engel Zeitmuseum'…Ich wollte nichts mehr damit zu tun haben! Ich wollte die Sammlung loswerden.”—and thus the sale at hand.

Professor Engel is famous for his Breguet['s], but few, very few people knew of the other collection of … 17th and 18th century watches which he had assembled while looking for Breguet pieces … [T]his first part of the Collection that we are now offering for sale represents Thomas Engel's “secret” collection … [O]ne that reveals masterpieces of horology.osvaldo patrizzi

Albert Pellaton-Favre [1834–1914], Le Locle, No. 3171, circa 1900. Exceptionally fine and important 18K gold, keyless, one-minute tourbillon regulator pocket chronometer with special escapement (lot 261). Also pictured is lot 262: Jämes-César Pellaton (1873–1954) one-minute tourbillon Le Locle, No. 1963, Premier Prix Observatoire de Neuchatel 1933; the watch is described in Das Tourbillon [40, pg. 170–171].

Albert Pellaton-Favre. C. Three-body, "bassine et filets", glazed back, polished band and bezels. D. Silver, radial Roman numerals, outer minute ring, subsidiary sunk seconds, matte center. Blued steel "spade" hands. M. 44,8 mm (20'''), rhodiumed, Locle Technicum caliber with curved center bridge, "fausses côtes" decoration, three-arm equidistant Pellaton carriage with spring detent escapement, cut bimetallic compensation balance, blued steel balance spring with Phillips outer terminal curve, index regulator with goldscale plate, jeweled to the center, entire escapement with endstones. Signed on movement. Diam. 52 mm.

Thomas Tompion (1637–1713) No. 3743, circa 1705, fusee and chain, verge escapement (lot 271) and Thomas Tompion & George Graham (1673–1751) No. 4538, circa 1705, fusee and chain, verge escapement (lot 272)—both watches are listed in the book «Thomas Tompion 300 years: a celebration of the life and work of Thomas Tompion»—a magisterial tome about the exalted English clockmaker.

I have often been asked who in my opinion was the most important watchmaker? Was it Tompion, Mudge or Breguet? I have no problem in answering this question. In my opinion, it was by a long shot John Harrison. In the history of mankind, he was the first to develop a timepiece of exceptional timekeeping…For the very first time, it allowed to precisely determine longitude at sea. thomas engel: warum taschenuhren

Here are six Breguet (1747–1823) timepieces from the Thomas Engel collection: No. 257 (lot 310), No. 164 (lot 312), No. 873 (lot 320), No. 2 (lot 323), No. 3356 (lot 326) and No. 2972 (lot 321)…the Trojan War was started for less.

Two chefs d'œuvre of Albert Henry Potter (1836–1908), one of the greatest American (Swiss 1875–) watchmakers. Please see Paul Chamberlain's «It's About Time» for a biographical sketch of Albert Potter [44, pg. 444–450].

Lot 297: Albert H. Potter & Co. Geneva. No. 744, circa 1885, constant force chronometer; “This is clearly the masterpeice among all Potter's watches.” Sold CHF 157,500.

Lot 298: Albert H. Potter & Co. Geneva. No. 9, circa 1875, chronometer; “the present chronometer is one of the best Potter made.” Sold CHF 62,100.

Arnold, Frodsham and Dent: three storied horological names. The reader will be rewarded to beg, borrow or buy the Vaudrey Mercer books: «John Arnold and Son: chronometer makers», «The Frodshams: the story of a family of chronometer makers» and «The life and letters of Edward John Dent, chronometer maker»—further recommended Hans Staeger's (1928–2007) book «100 Years of Precision Timekeepers from John Arnold to Arnold & Frodsham, 1763–1862»—F. Mueller-Maerki says: “Hans Staeger's book on Arnold is the most thorough book ever written on that subject.”

Lot 233: Arnold, Charles Frodsham, Watchmaker to the Queen, 84 Strand London, No. 9386, circa 1857, fusee and chain, lateral calibrated lever escapement. Sold 2,500 CHF.

Lot 234: Arnold, Charles Frodsham, 84 Strand, London, No. 8285, circa 1854, fusee and chain, lateral calibrated lever escapement. Sold 2,100 CHF.

Lot 292: John Roger Arnold, No. 3022, circa 1810, pocket chronometer. Sold 13,800 CHF.

Lot 294: Dent, Watchmaker to the Queen, No. 26484, circa 1874, grand et petite sonnerie with minute repeating. Sold 57,000 CHF.

† F. Mueller-Maerki: horological scholar, founder of Bibliographia Horologiae Mundi and eponym of the NAWCC Fortunat Mueller-Maerki Library & Research Center.

What happend to Part II of the sale? The author's understanding is the watches scheduled for “Part II” were sold in private treaty rendering a further auction moot. The author has been unable to determine a listing of Thomas Engel's Breguets that were slated for “Part II” of the Antiquorum sale thus following-up on the “Part II” watches is difficult—four Breguets from Part I (Nos. 2292, 3519, 3872 & 4284) reside in the collection Montres Breguet S.A. thus the author's guess is the Breguet Museum may have aquired the “Part II” Breguets.


Interlude
la Montre—Apollinaire

Comme l'on s'amuse bien!
Tircis, la beauté de la vie
Passe la peur de mourir.
Mon coeur, les yeux, l'enfant, Agla, la main,
l'infini redressé par un fou philosophe
les Muses aux portes de ton corps
le bel inconnu
et le vers dantesque luisant et cadavérique.
les heures, semaine.
Il est moins 5 enfin.
Et tout sera fini.


A.-L. Breguet Literature

A book is a garden, an orchard, a storehouse, a party, a company by the way, a counselor, a multitude of counselors.baudelaire

A.-L. Breguet may be the Abraham Lincoln and Napoleon of horology regarding the sheer amount of literature associated with the watchmaker—the number of Breguet books, articles, auctions etc. is fanciful-infinity given Breguet's fecund imagination and the kaleidoscope of Breguet's corps de travail. It would be folly to entertain even a half-hearted list of Breguet literature but pictured are some of the books etc. the author availed himself of from the author's wee library for the making of the article. It's the notion of the dilettante author that the “holy trinity” of Breguet literature is: David Salomons «Breguet 1747–1823», George Daniels «The Art of Breguet» and Thomas Engel's «Watchmaker to Kings»—the books pictured below can be found in Appendix III.

The author tends to eschew lifetime ownership of the larger “coffee table” books due to space limitations but the books pictured are available from the NAWCC Lending Library for the ascetic or budget-minded—the books are well-worth a peep if not a perusal…«Watchmaker to Kings» appears in each book's bibliography (≠ the Patrizzi book) and Thomas Engel appears upon a close reading in the acknowledgement section of Emmanuel Breguet's «Breguet-Watchmakers since 1775».

The author recommends a couple nice Breguet resources: «Breguet chez Chayette» [14] and «Exhibition of antique & vintage Breguet watches, Beyer Museum» [19]

«Breguet chez Chayette» an assembly of Breguets auctioned by Hervé Chayette from 1980–2010. The book showcases 70+ Breguet watches and clocks (most with pictures) accompanied by Breguet-related essays by Anthony Turner and Jean-Claude Sabrier.

«Exhibition of Antique & Vintage Breguet Watches from November 22nd to December 19th, 2004 at the Clock & Watch Museum Beyer Zurich» Beyer Clock and Watch Museum exhibit of 129 Breguet watches and clocks from private collections, the Breguet Museum, Beyer Museum, Musée International d'Hhorlogerie, the Swiss National Museum (Pragins) and Collection ETA S.A. (Grenchen).

Books about individual collections offer a cherished—and passionate—perspective on Breguet watches and their owners often lacking in the “coffee table” books…the reader is most welcome to seek out such books for example the collections of Gerd Ahrens (1920–2005), Cecil Clutton (1909–1990) and Courtenay Ilbert (1888–1956). Breguet timepieces included in the aforementioned collections include: Gerd Ahrens' Breguet No. 1919 «Die taschenuhrensammlung von Gerd Ahrens» (page 376), Cecil Clutton's Breguet No. 15 «Collector's Collection» (page 58) and Courtenay Ilbert's Breguet No. 46 «Catalogue of Watches in the British Museum Volume VI» (page 135) [the book is a de facto catalog of Ilbert's watch collection as 90% of the book's entries belonged to Courtenay Ilbert].

★ n.b. Please see two articles in the Antiquarian Horology Journal by Paul Buck on Courtenay Ilbert's life and watch collection: «Courtenay Adrian Ilbert, Horological Collector» Part I & II [67].

For an ad hoc treatment of Breguet's Perpétuelles please see Jean-Claude Sabrier's book «The Self-Winding Watch» [70, pg. 65–115]—the book contains a lengthy section on Breguet's self-winding watches and includes ≈20 Breguet Perpétuelles timepieces: Nos. 1-8/82, 3-4/86, 5, 9, 15, 19, 26, 28, 30/3997, 148, 157, 160, 217, 630, 1670, 4220, 4548 and 5050. Also see Chapter IV of the Chapuis & Jaguet book «The History of the Self-winding Watch» which has an extended discussion of Breguet's Perpétuelles [69, pg. 69—130].

Georges Rigot's monograph «Montres de souscription et à tact de Breguet» is a cornucopoia of Breguet montre souscription and montre à tact watches—illustrated are ≈50 souscription watches and ≈23 montre à watches. The book is en hommage à Jean-Claude Sabrier (☨ 2014)—in the book's foreword the author [Rigot] thanks his friend [Sabrier] humaniste-historien-expert mondialement connu for entrée to the fellowship of renowned horologists (including Herr Engel)…

Je pense principalement à: Arnaud Tellier, Philip Poniz, Osvaldo Patrizzi, Anthony Turner, Thomas Engel, Adolphe Chapiro, George Daniels et François-Paul Journe, sans oublier les autres non cités, car la liste de ses [Sabrier] relations était fort longue.georges rigot, avant-propos de l'auteur

Georges Rigot recounts in the book his first Breguet purchased 1974: …je découvris le génie mécanique et les créations intemporelles d'Abraham-Louis Breguet, par l'acquisition de ma première montre souscription, le No. 1586. Breguet No. 1586 (pictured far-right), circa 1804, certificate No. 3430 dated July, 1975; the watch does not appear in Rigot's book—the watch is featured in Adolphe Chapiro's article Les Montres de Souscription (French Association of Old Watchmaking Amateurs No. 17, Winter, 1977).

The curious and foolhardy reader willing to risk a rabbit-hole is encouraged to explore the Breguet-related bibliographies contained in many of the books referenced by the author—notable is the biblography found in «A.-L. Breguet L'art de mesurer le temps» [15, pg. 46–52] referencing ≈100 Breguet-related monographs, articles, catalogues, periodicals etc. ranging from 1819–1995.

Nous avons réuni dans les pages qui suivent plus de cent références bibliographiques concernant Abraham-Louis Breguet, dont le contenu servira avec profit, nous l'espérons, les intérêts du chercheur, qu'il soit biographe, historien de l'horlogerie, de la technique et des sciences, spécialiste des sciences sociales ou commerciales, enfin historien d'art. Les champs d'etude s'étendent avec les textes se rapportant à l'ascendance ou aux activites de la descendance de l'horloger. L'amateur d'histoires…trouvera quant à lui maintes sources de plaisirs, notamment dans les textes reproduisant la correspondence de Breguet et de son entourage, témoignages vivants et directs d'une intense fin de XVIII siècle.

Adolphe Chapiro's book «La Montre Française du XV1e siècle jusqu'a 1900», a wonderful book in toto, has a wonderful and intricate section (≈50 pages) devoted to Breguet featuring many Breguet watches, including: Breguet Nos. 3/82, 5, 12, 29, 86, 91, 106/4291, 149, 199, 203, 258, 361, 443, 753, 899, 924, 1165, 1536, 1586, 2058, 2174, 2781, 3397, 3738, 4020 and 4351. Note: the book's annexes No. 3, No. 4 and No. 5 are dedicated to Breguet.

A monograph regarding Breguet carriage clocks does not exist to the author's knowledge but the often referenced books on the subject are Charles Allix's 1974 «Carriage Clocks: Their History and Development» and Derek Roberts' 1997 «Carriage and Other Traveling Clocks».

«Carriage Clocks: Their History and Development» the book contains ≈20 pages about Breguet carriage clocks including a table of 30+ “representative” Breguet carriage (and portable) clocks with illustrations of Breguet Nos. 179, 780 (tourbillon), 2020, 2767, 2848, 3629 & 4685.

«Carriage and Other Traveling Clocks» the book contains ≈17 pages about Breguet carriage clocks including illustrations of Breguet Nos. No. 1 (Sympathique), 178, 723, 780 (tourbillon), 1827, 2020, 3347, 3358, 3629, 4685, 4712, 4819, 5017 & 5096.

★ n.b. The author is an archetypal layman regarding horology so accept with a grain of salt but the author may not be far afield in recommending two of the books mentioned in the article, namely George Daniels' «The Art of Breguet» and Rupert T. Gould's «The Marine Chronometer Its History and Development»—the books can serve as bookends to (if not pillars of) any horological library even if bookending each other so-to-speak by their lonesome. The two books had the following bibliography entries in the oft-cited Cecil Clutton & George Daniels book «Watches» (1979)…

My gratitude…to Herr Thomas Engel for his generosity in allowing me to examine his private collection of Breguet workshop notebooks… george daniels, preface to «The Art of Breguet»

Many books have been written about Breguet including that by Sir David Salomons, about his own collection, now long out of print. But while all have their own value the whole subject is now covered definitively in the The Art of Breguet by George Daniels (Sotheby Parke Bernet, 1975).

R. T. Gould's The Marine Chronometer, its History and development was first published in 1923 and for historical interest, entertainment value and excellence of style, this book is unrivalled in horological literature. The facsimile edition is published by Holland Press (1976).

Without literature life is hell.charles bukowski


Interlude
Rolex, Rolex, Rolex

Some time ago, I had the visit of a VIP of the Swiss watch industry together with his charming wife. After an interesting conversation about Breguet and other great makers … he asked me: “Tell me, Professor, which is in your opinion the best Swiss watch today?” I had no problem in answering that question. “In my view it is the Rolex …” [T]here was dead silence for a minute until I continued, “the Rolex may not be the most elegant watch but it is certainly the most reliable. I have crossed the Sahara four times with my Rolex … I would not trust any other watch”.thomas engel


Epilogue

Les pierres du chantier ne sont en vrac qu′en apparence, s′il est, perdu dans le chantier, un homme, serait-il seul, qui pense cathédrale. antoine de saint exupèry

A.-L. Breguet was nonpareil, a Promethean watchmaker, but fair to say Thomas Engel was sui generis…self-risen from the fatigue of war to the apogee of art and science—science eases the burden of the Sysiphean mortal-coil while art makes the quotidian life bearable—Thomas Engel's benefaction to both science and art stands witness to one man's troth and mankind's promise. If A.-L. Breguet's œuvre is the Beethoven piano sonatas of horology then surely Thomas Engel's opus is Schubert's—both Breguet and Thomas Engel were romantic composers of time.

It is the author's wish that hopefully having a forgiving temper Thomas Engel would not look askance at the author's amateur article whose primordial intent was more-or-less the solitary enjoyment of the author. Hopefully the meandering, medley of a monograph the reader has lumbered, or rather labored through, has sketched, however faintly, a portrait of the horological world of Thomas Engel.

nunc fluens facit tempus,nunc stans facit aeternitatum—boethius

Appreciation to Chayette & Chavel, Ineichen Zürich, Dr. Crott's Auctioneers, Beyer Museum and Musée lnternational d'horlogerie for their kindness to a stranger; regards to the book-sellers: Booksimonin, Jeffrey Formby & Anthony Turner; gratitude to the NAWCC Library & staff and thank you to the Sex Pistols and Rémy Martin Accord Royal for moral support.

In the end, I was the only one with any anarchy left in me.sid vicious



Appendices

مرا در تار و پود زمان و دریاهای فضا پرت کن. مرا از هیچ و از هیچ - همه چیز بساز.
جلال‌الدین محمد بلخى —

Appendix I Thomas Engel Breguets

Breguet watches “identified” by the author as once belonging to Thomas Engel—certainly the list is incomplete.

Breguet No. 2 circa 1824 ¶
Breguet No. 47 circa 1787 ¶¶
Breguet No. 65/722 circa 1787 †
Breguet No. 119 circa 1798 ★
Breguet No. 164 circa 1796 ¶
Breguet No. 179 circa 1804 ∀
Breguet No. 257 circa 1798 ¶
Breguet No. 455 circa 1798 ∀
Breguet No. 482 circa 1799 ¶
Breguet No. 515/4564 circa 1843 ∀
Breguet No. 852 circa 1801 ★
Breguet No. 873 circa 1840 ¶
Breguet No. 986 circa 1803 ∀
Breguet No. 987 circa 1803 ∀ ★
Breguet No. 1177 circa 1805 ¶
Breguet No. 1320 circa 1804 ¶
Breguet No. 1470 circa 1805 ¶
Breguet No. 1679 circa ???? ∀
Breguet No. 1687 circa 1805 ∀
Breguet No. 1776 circa 1807 ★★
Breguet No. 2077 circa 1808 ‡
Breguet No. 2122 circa 1808 ∀
Breguet No. 2183 circa 1810 ★
Breguet No. 2292 circa 1809 ¶
Breguet No. 2556 circa 1812 ★
Breguet No. 2568 circa 1818 ★
Breguet No. 2600/450 circa 1811 ¶
Breguet No. 2687 circa 1818 ★
Breguet No. 2758/417 circa 1841 ★
Breguet No. 2782 circa 1816 ∀
Breguet No. 2791 circa 1818 ¶
Breguet No. 2914 circa 1819 ∀
Breguet No. 2934 circa 1817 ★
Breguet No. 2972 circa 1816 ¶
Breguet No. 3012 circa 1818 ★
Breguet No. 3167 circa 1820 ††
Breguet No. 3356 circa 1839 ¶
Breguet No. 3519 circa 1822 ¶ ∀ ★
Breguet No. 3624 circa 1821 ★
Breguet No. 3625 circa 1821 ★
Breguet No. 3872 circa 1825 ¶ ★
Breguet No. 3999 circa 1823 ★
Breguet No. 4047 circa 1824 ★
Breguet No. 4238 circa 1826 ∀
Breguet No. 4284 circa 1824 ¶
Breguet No. 4285 circa 1824 ★
Breguet No. 4321 circa 1825 ★
Breguet No. 4760 circa 1826 ★
Breguet No. 5047 circa 1833 ¶ ★

¶¶ refer to TE autobiography page 203 and «Watchmaker to Kings» page 88.
† refer to TE autobiography, the watch appears in an image for Das Engel Zeitmuseum suggesting No. 65/722 was owned by TE.
‡ refer to TE autobiography pages 62–64 and «Watchmaker to Kings» page 198; the two anecdotes suggest Breguet No. 2077 was owned by TE.
†† refer to TE autobiography page 81 and «Watchmaker to Kings» page 98; the appearance in both sources suggest No. 3167 was owned by TE.
¶ the watch appeared in the 2001 Antiquorum Thomas Engel Collection Part I Sale.
∀ the watch appeared in the 1976 Musée International d'Horlogerie 1976 L'Oeuvre d'Abraham-Louis Breguet Exhibition.
★ the watch was included in the Sir David Salomons Collection Christie's Part III sale.
★★ Christoph Allemann Chronometrophilia No. 19.


Appendix II Thomas Engel-Breguet Timepieces Auction Reference

Trust but Verify—below is an attempt to reference at least one auction appearance of the Engel-Breguet watches mentioned in the article. It is recommended to check any particular watch/auction versus taking the author's research at face-value.

✓ = auction reference, ✗ =unable to find an auction reference or the watch never appeared in an auction.

Type Concours Observatoire (17 watches)
✓ No. 1 Tagan Paris 2019: lot 47
✓ No. 3 Sotheby's 2012: lot 181
✓ No. 4 Antiquorum 1983: lot 179
✓ No. 6 Sotheby's 2012: lot 182
✓ No. 7 Ineichen Zürich 2010: lot 56
✓ No. 8 Antiquorum 2008: lot 94
✓ No. 9 Christie's 2004: lot 1538
✓ No. 10 Antiquorum 2007: lot 244
✓ No. 11 Sotheby's 2005: lot 291
✓ No. 16 Chayette, Paris 1980: lot 140
✓ No. 17 Dr. Crott Auction 81, 2010: lot 559
✗ No. 19 Musée lnternational d'horlogerie
✓ No. 25 Bonhams 2012: lot 18
✓ No. 26 Christie's 2003: lot 28
✓ No. 29 Christie's 2017: lot 107
Type Concours Observatoire (17 watches)
✓ No. 39 Christie's 2016: lot 203
✓ No. 39 Christie's 2016: lot 203
✗ Unk-1 Chronométrophilia No. 19

Carriage Clock
✓ No. 001 Sotheby's 2019: lot 34

Tourbillons (21 watches)
✓ No. 1 Antiquorum 1983: lot 180
✗ No. 1 (Benoît) Musée lnter. d'horlogerie
✗ No. 2 (Benoît) Das Tourbillon [40, pg. 282]
✗ No. 2b Described Das Tourbillon page 279
✓ No. 3 Ineichen 125 sale, 2000
✓ No. IV Christie's 2007: lot 229
✗ No. VI Das Tourbillon page 278
Tourbillons (21 watches)
✓ No. VIII Antiquorum 2012: lot 41
✓ No. IX Christie's 2015: lot 106
✓ No. X Antiquorum 1999: lot 81
✓ No. 12 Sotheby's 2019: lot 35
✓ No. 14 Artcurial 2020: lot 132
✓ No. 15 Christie's 2017: lot 108
✓ No. 15b Dr. Crott Auction 66, 2003: lot 502
✗ No. 17 Described Engel Book [01]
✓ No. 27 Antiquorum 1999: lot 80
✓ No. 28 Sotheby's 2012: lot 184.
✓ No. 1991 Antiquorum 1991: lot 183
✗ No. 000 (Jump-hour) Klassik Uhren 2011
✗ No. 4 (Jump-hour) Klassik Uhren 2011
✗ Unk-3 Described Das Tourbillon page 280

Appendix III Reference Materials & Recommended Reading

The references listed below were consulted by the author in the making of the article—references are cited in the article as necessary.

✓ = author's book (at time of the article) / ✗ ≠ author's book / ☆ = NAWCC Lending Library

  1. A.L. Breguet: Watchmaker to Kings, Thoughts on Time, Thomas Engel, Sticher Konzepte 1994. 221 pages. ✓

  2. Thomas Engel, Ein moderner Thomas Edison, Die Biografie, Thomas Engel. Costa Maritim, Wiesbaden 2003. 300 pages. ✓

  3. Professor Thomas Engel Collection-Part 1. Antiquorum, Geneva, 2001. 154 pages. ✓

  4. Thomas Engel: Taschenuhr-Chronometer Im Stile Breguets, Manfred Rössler. Klassik-Uhren, Ebner Verlag. Issue 6/2011 pg. 26–43. ✓

  5. The Engel Method, Dan Holohan. Plumbing & Mechanical Magazine. BNP Publishing, September 2015. pages 32–33. ✓

  6. The Art of Breguet, George Daniels. Sotheby Parke Bernet 1984. 1st edition. 394 pages. ✓

  7. Centenaire de A.-L. Breguet, 1747-1823: exposition de son œuvre d'horologerie et de chronometrie. Musée Galliera, Paris, 1923. 46 pages. ✓

  8. A.-L. Breguet pendant la révolution française à Paris, en Angleterre et en Suisse, Alfred Chapuis. Neuchâtel, 1953. ✓

  9. Breguet 1747–1823, Sir David Lionel Salomons. London, printed for the author, 1921. 240 pages (Supplement 50 pages). ✓

  10. The Celebrated Collection of Watches by Breguet formed by the late Sir David Salomons. Christie's 1964–1965. Three Parts. ✓

  11. Watches & Clocks in the Sir David Salomons Collection, George Daniels & Ohames Markarian. Sotheby, London, 1980. 318 pages. ✓

  12. Breguet in the Hermitage, Emmanuel Breguet; Jean-Claude Sabrier. St. Petersburg: State Hermitage Museum, Slavia, 2004. 155 pages. ✓

  13. L'Oeuvre d'Abraham-Louis Breguet: Catalogue de l'exposition. Musée International d'Horlogerie, La Chaux-de-Fonds, 1976. 56 pages. ✓

  14. Breguet chez Chayette, Chayette, Sabrier & Turner. Rogers Turner Books, Paris, 2010. 190 pages. ✓

  15. A.-L. Breguet L'art de mesurer le temps, Catherine Cardinal et al. Institut l'homme et le temps, La Chaux-de-Fonds, 1997. 55 pages. ✓

  16. The Art of Breguet: An important collection of 204 watches, clocks and wristwatches. Habsburg, SA, Geneva, 1991. 479 pages. ✓

  17. Breguet-ein Schweizer in Paris = Breguet-un Suisse à Paris, Sigrid Pallmert. Schweizerisches Landesmuseum, Zürich, 1991. 30 pages. ✓

  18. Breguet and the Ottoman Empire, Topkapi Palace Museum. Instanbul, 2010. 68 pages. ✓

  19. Exhibition of antique & vintage Breguet watches, November–December 2004. Clock and Watch Museum Beyer, Zurich, 2004. 39 pages. ✓

  20. A. L. Breguet, Horologer, C. Breguet (translated W. A. H. Brown). Enfield, Middlesex, 1962. 34 pages. ✓

  21. Alte Uhren 2/1983 and 3/1983. Ebner Verlag, München, 1983. ✓

  22. Ein Tourbillon nach A. H. Benoît, Richard Daners. Alte Uhren, Callwey April, 1987. Pages 20–27. ✓

  23. Das Tourbillon nach A. H. Benoit, Thomas Engel. Alte Uhren, Callwey, München, April 1980. Pages 151–154. ✓

  24. Eine Zeitreise von den Entdeckungen Guillaumes…, Hauke Norbert Heffels. Klassik-Uhren, Ebner Verlag. Issue 6/1999. Pages 18–33. ✓

  25. Geschichte und Anwendung der Guillochiertechnik im UhrenBau, Christoph Allemann. Chronométrophilia No. 19, 1985. Pages 35–73. ✓

  26. Ein Tourbillon nach A.-H. Benoit, Richard Daners. Chronométrophilia No. 21, 1986. Pages 29–46. ✓

  27. Eine Hemmung mit konstanter…Minutetourbillon, Richard Daners. Chronométrophilia No. 35, 1993. Pages 46–54. ✓

  28. Ungleiche Zwillinge, Richard Daners. Chronométrophilia No. 48, 2000. Musée International de l'horlogerie. Pages 89–100. ✓

  29. Le tourbillon, prouesse technique des horlogers, Musée lnternational d'horlogerie. Chronométrophilia No. 40, 1996. Pages 2–31. ✓

  30. L'itinéraire révolutionnaire d'Abraham-Louis Breguet, Marie Breguet. Chronométrophilia No. 43, 1997. Pages 14–23. ✓

  31. Montres de souscription et à tact de Breguet, Georges Rigot. Lyon, M&P Edition, 2017. 192 pages. ✓

  32. Un chef-d'œuvre de Breguet, Jean-Claude Sabrier. Bulletin de l'ANCAHA No. 20, Paris, 1977. Pages 67–74. ✓

  33. The Fine Art of Breguet, Allen Kurzweil. Smithsonian Magazine, Washington, DC, May 1985. Pages 92–103. ✓

  34. Abraham-Louis Breguet L'horloerie à la conquête du monde, Emmanual Breguet et al. Musée national suisse, 2011. 271 pages. ✓

  35. Breguet-Watchmakers since 1775, Emmanuel Breguet. Alain de Gourcuff, Paris, 1997, 1st edition. 383 pages. ✓

  36. Breguet-Watchmakers since 1775, Emmanuel Breguet. Alain de Gourcuff, Paris, 2010, 2nd edition. 452 pages. ✗

  37. Breguet. An apogee of European watchmaking. Curator: Marc Bascou. Paris: Louvre Museum, 2009. 263 pages. ✓

  38. Breguet Art and innovation in Watchmaking, Emmanual Breguet and Martin Chapman DelMonico. Munich, 2016. 176 pages. ✓

  39. Breguet. Meisterwerke klassischer Uhrmacherkunst, Osvaldo Patrizzi et al. Callwey, Munich 1991. 380 pages. ✓

  40. Das Tourbillon-Faszination der Uhrentechnik, Reinhard Meis. München, Verlag Laterna Magica, 1986. ✓

  41. Richard Daners: Sein Werk-Son Oeuvre. ATHENA-Verlag; Auflage 2007. 128 pages. French & German. ✓

  42. Watches: a complete history of the development of the watch, Cecil Clutton and George Daniels. London, 1979. 312 pages. ✓

  43. The Camerer Cuss book of antique watches, T.P. Camerer Cuss. Antique Collectors Club, 1976. 332 pages. ✓

  44. It's About Time, Paul M. Chamberlain. Holland Press, London, 1978. 490 pages. ✓

  45. Watches-The Paul M. Chamberlain Collection at the Art Institute of Chicago 1921. Chicago: The Institute. 66 pages. ✓

  46. Les Grands Artisans de la Chronométre Histoire de l'horloerie au Locle, Alfred Chapuis. Editions du Griffon, Neuchâtel, 1958. 276 pages. ✓

  47. IWC, International Watch Co., Schaffhausen, Hans-F. Tölke, Jürgen King. Verlag Ineichen, 1987. 238 pages. ✓

  48. George Daniels: A Master Watchmaker & His Art, Michael Clerizo. Thames & Hudson, 2013. 208 pages. ☆

  49. Watchmaking, George Daniels. Sotheby Publications, 1981. 416 pages. ✓

  50. The Marine Chronometer Its History and Development, Rupert T. Gould. ACC Art Books Ltd, 2016. 287 pages. ✓

  51. Longitude at Sea in the Time of Louis Berthoud and Henri Motel, Jean-Claude Sabrier. Antiquorum, Geneva, 1993. 720 pages. ✓

  52. The Quest for Longitude, edited by William J. H. Andrewes. Collection of Historic Scientific Instruments, 1998. 437 pages. ✓

  53. Pocket Watches from the Pendant Watch to the Tourbillon, Reinhard Meis. Schiffer Pub. Ltd, 1987. 316 pages. ✓

  54. Alfred Helwig 1886–1974: his life and work dedicated to the art of watchmaking, Reinhard Reichel. Glashütte, 2011. 60 pages. ☆

  55. Drehganguhren (tourbillons und karusselluhren), Alfred Helwig. Berlin, Deutsche uhrmacher-zeitung, 1927. 98 pages. ☆

  56. Die taschenuhrensammlung von Gerd Ahrens, Christian Pfeiffer-Belli editor. Callwey, Munich, 2006. Two Volumes: 655 pages. ✓

  57. Carriage Clocks: Their History and Development, Charles Allix. Antique Collectors' Club, Suffolk, 1974. 483 pages. ✓

  58. Carriage and Other Traveling Clocks, Derek Roberts. Schiffer Publishing Ltd., 1997. 368 pages. ✓

  59. 100 Years of Precision Timekeepers: John Arnold–Arnold & Frodsham, 1763–1862, Hans Staeger. Brullmann GmbH, Stuttgart, 1997. 885 pages. ✓

  60. Thomas Tompion 300 years: a celebration of the life & work of Thomas Tompion, Jeremy Evans et al. Water Lane, Gloucestershire, 2014. 664 pages. ✓

  61. Pocket Chronometers, Marine Chronometers…(Watches in the British Museum), Vol. VI, Randall & Good. London, 1990. 275 pages. ✓

  62. Collector's Collection, Cecil Clutton. Antiquarian Horological Society, 1974. 96 pages. ✓

  63. The Time Museum: An Introduction, William Andrewes & Seth Atwood. The Time Museum, 1983. 31 pages. ✓

  64. Masterpieces from the Time Museum. Sotheby's, New York, 1999. 315 pages. ☆

  65. Masterpieces from the Time Museum Part Four, Volume 1. Sotheby's, New York, 2004. 208 pages. ☆

  66. The Time Museum Catalogue of Chronometers, Anthony G. Randall. The Time Museum, Rockford, Illinois, 1992. 366 pages. ✓

  67. Courtenay Ilbert, Horological Collector Part I and II, Paul Buck. Antiquarian Horology Volume 32/4 & Volume 38/2. ✓

  68. La Montre Française du XV1e siècle jusqu'a 1900, Adolphe Chapiro. Editions de l'Amateur, Paris, 1991. 463 pages. ✓

  69. The History of the Self-winding Watch: 1770–1931, Alfred Chapuis & Eugène Jaquet. Neuchatel, Editions du Griffon, 1956. 246 pages. ✓

  70. The Self-winding watch: 18th–21st century, Jean-Claude Sabrier. Paris Éditions Cercle d'Art, 2011. 307 pages. ☆

  71. Collection Hans Wilsdorf, Rolex Watch Company. Rolex, Geneva, 1970. 52 pages. ✓

  72. Zenith: The Story of a Watch Manufacture Under a Guiding Star, Joël Duval. Albin Michel, 2015. 448 pages. ✓

  73. Zenith: Swiss Watch Manufacture Since 1865, Manfred Rössler, Damiani 2009. 328 pages. ✓

★ The Vaudrey Mercer trio of books though not necessarily germane to the article are mentioned in the article and therefore listed for reference.

  1. John Arnold and Son: chronometer makers, 1762–1843, Vaudrey Mercer. Antiquarian Horological Society, London, 1972. 302 pages. ✓

  2. The Frodshams: the story of a family of chronometer makers, Vaudrey Mercer. Ticehurst, London, 1981. 458 pages. ✓

  3. The life & letters of Edward John Dent, chronometer maker & his successors, Vaudrey Mercer. Ticehurst, London, 1977. 829 pages. ✓


Vulnerant Omnia Ultima Necat

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