Nick Landsberg
2
When is a Breguet not a Breguet
I wonder if someone could shine some light on this pocket watch.I hesitate to say --this Breguet pocket watch at this stage in my investigations.I have a lot of history concerning this watch as it has been handed down through generations of our family.I have e-mailed Emmanuel.breguet@swatchgroup.com but so far ,unfortunately I have not had a reply yet.This is an extract of what I put in the e-mail.
The history behind this watch was told to me recently by my father ( now 90 yrs young ).
my father's aunt Emmy married a Doctor Otto Bohm who became one of the chief executives of UFA ( Universal Film )Company in Berlin.The company was known to be lavish with long serving management and after 25 years of employment people got a very valuable momento of their choice.Dr Bohm chose a Breguet pocket watch which was , at that time and is still now , well out of reach of the ordinary man in the street.As he was a valued and respected member of the UFA directors they agreed for him to have this momento.When Emmy had to leave Germany, as she was a Jewess, a few years after Otto's death in the late 1920's she managed to conceal the watch from the Nazis.When she died in London a few years after her arrival she left the watch to her brother Leon Landsberg ( my grandfather ). It was then passed to my father on Leons death in around 1947.Otto owned many famous paintings and other directors were given paintings, some by Monet etc and it seemed in keeping for him to own a Breguet.
So this is the history of the watch.I do realise that because a watch has a history it does not still prevent it from being a fake.I also understand that to prove autenticity the proceedure is to take it to Paris but before that I would like to have any comments from this learned forum.I have read many of your previous comments and appreciate the wealth of specialised knowledge that you have.
There are many marks and numbers on the removable back plate and on the inside of the rear cover.I appreciate that a photo is worth a thousand words and I will gladly send anyone digital photos by e-mail.I have not yet read how to upload photos into the Forum.
The watch is wound by inserting a key onto a square peg in the centre of the hands, at the front of the watch, after the front glass has been opened.The hands appear in the form of Breguet ( small circles 3/4 way along ). On the inner cover is Breguet et Fils A Paris
( then a sweeping letter ) N ( with a small o inside it ) 2209.On the rear cover is PHPIK18 18055.Also there is a mark that looks like a capital T with an o in the upright part. Underneath this is 1239.Round the inside rim of the watch under the chime spring is 19902.Finally the key has a 3 on it.The watch is gold with a dull gold face.
I hope that this will help in identifying this wonderful timepiece.
Nicholas