George Daniels says from Abraham-Louis Breguet that he built an international reputation without equivalence in the history of watchmaking. He distinguished himself with his prestigious inventions, whose many are still used nowadays, starting with the tourbillon and the wristwatch. This extraordinary career brought him several distinctions: Official Horologer to the French Royal Navy, Member of the Academy of Sciences or Knight of the Legion of Honor. He passes in 1823, at the age of 76 years.
Invention of the “montre à double secondes” or observation chronometer, forerunner of the modern chronograph.
Chronographs indicate the length of a period of time elapsed. With his split-seconds, or observation, chronograph of 1820 which allowed the measurement of intermediate periods, or of the time elapsed during two separate but simultaneous events, Breguet laid the foundations for modern chronographs.
Breguet watch no. 4009, a ‘double-seconds “observation” chronograph’, or split-second stop watch, sold on 6 January 1825 to Mr Whaley. The two chronometer hands are started by means of the two push-pieces set to either side of the pendant.
