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Air King Date · 17 January 2006, 09:28 PM

Anybody else see this in the papers?

January 17, 2006
Stolen timepiece has tale to tell
By AP

NEW YORK -- Many fashion brands can boast Hollywood royalty as clients, but few have loyal royal fans the way Breguet does.

In 1783 a man believed to be one of Marie Antoinette's lovers ordered a watch for the French queen that had every complication known to watchmakers at the time -- which, notes current Breguet president Nicholas Hayek, means just about every mechanical complication known to watchmakers now.

It had a perpetual calendar that adjusted for leap years, a repeater that chimed out the hours, quarter hours and minutes, and it tracked both solar time and mean time. It had a thermometer and a power-reserve indicator.

NEVER RECOVERED

The watch actually wasn't finished until 44 years later, 10 years after Marie Antoinette's death and four years after A.L. Breguet's. His assistants carried on, and eventually the watch had a new owner: Marquis de Garoye of Paris, according to a 2004 issue of WatchTime.

It changed hands again a few more times until it was bought by Sir David Lionel Salomons. He bequeathed the watch to his daughter, who left it to the L.A. Mayer Museum for Islamic Art in Jerusalem. It was displayed there until 1983 when burglars stole much of the Salomons collection. It hasn't been recovered.

Hayek isn't sure whether the thieves knew the value of the watch -- or if the watch still exists.

The Marie Antoinette was one of the oldest watches in the world still ticking when it was stolen. Breguet has a 230-year-old pocketwatch in its archives as well as several 200-year-old watches.

A watch's provenance can add significantly to its value, says Ed Faber, president of New York's Aaron Faber Gallery. He notes the recent sale of an Omega watch that John F. Kennedy wore at his 1961 inauguration for $420,000 US. Without the history that came with it, the watch itself was probably worth $1,000, Faber estimates.

You know what is really criminal is that an Omega went for that amount!!

17 January 2006, 11:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Air King Date

You know what is really criminal is that an Omega went for that amount!!

LOL, well said!

JJ Irani · 18 January 2006, 03:43 AM

You know what is really criminal is that an Omega went for that amount!!

Pity it wasn't a Breitling !!!

mailman · 18 January 2006, 11:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JJ Irani

You know what is really criminal is that an Omega went for that amount!!

Pity it wasn't a Breitling !!!

Just glad it wasn't a pumpkin.

17 January 2006, 09:28 PM	#1
Air King Date Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 37	BE ON THE LOOKOUT (interesting stolen watch report) Anybody else see this in the papers? January 17, 2006 Stolen timepiece has tale to tell By AP NEW YORK -- Many fashion brands can boast Hollywood royalty as clients, but few have loyal royal fans the way Breguet does. In 1783 a man believed to be one of Marie Antoinette's lovers ordered a watch for the French queen that had every complication known to watchmakers at the time -- which, notes current Breguet president Nicholas Hayek, means just about every mechanical complication known to watchmakers now. It had a perpetual calendar that adjusted for leap years, a repeater that chimed out the hours, quarter hours and minutes, and it tracked both solar time and mean time. It had a thermometer and a power-reserve indicator. NEVER RECOVERED The watch actually wasn't finished until 44 years later, 10 years after Marie Antoinette's death and four years after A.L. Breguet's. His assistants carried on, and eventually the watch had a new owner: Marquis de Garoye of Paris, according to a 2004 issue of WatchTime. It changed hands again a few more times until it was bought by Sir David Lionel Salomons. He bequeathed the watch to his daughter, who left it to the L.A. Mayer Museum for Islamic Art in Jerusalem. It was displayed there until 1983 when burglars stole much of the Salomons collection. It hasn't been recovered. Hayek isn't sure whether the thieves knew the value of the watch -- or if the watch still exists. The Marie Antoinette was one of the oldest watches in the world still ticking when it was stolen. Breguet has a 230-year-old pocketwatch in its archives as well as several 200-year-old watches. A watch's provenance can add significantly to its value, says Ed Faber, president of New York's Aaron Faber Gallery. He notes the recent sale of an Omega watch that John F. Kennedy wore at his 1961 inauguration for $420,000 US. Without the history that came with it, the watch itself was probably worth $1,000, Faber estimates. You know what is really criminal is that an Omega went for that amount!!

18 January 2006, 03:43 AM	#3
JJ Irani Fondly Remembered Join Date: May 2005 Real Name: JJ Location: Auckland, NZ Watch: ALL SOLD!! Posts: 74,319	You know what is really criminal is that an Omega went for that amount!! Pity it wasn't a Breitling !!! __________________ Words fail me in expressing my utmost thanks to ALL of you for this wonderful support during my hour of need!! I firmly believe that my time on planet earth is NOT yet up!! I shall fight this to the very end.......and WIN!!

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