Breguet Tourbillon No. 1176

About this reference

The Breguet No. 1176 is a historical pocket watch completed in 1809, representing Abraham-Louis Breguet’s first four-minute tourbillon and the third tourbillon ever produced. Encased in 18k yellow gold, the watch features an échappement naturel, a power reserve indicator, and a subsidiary seconds dial. Collectors value this reference for its technical significance as the earliest tourbillon available for private acquisition, as the first two were retained by Breguet or gifted. The movement utilizes a gold gear train and a specialized chronometer escapement. While not a modern production reference, its historical provenance places it at the apex of the secondary market; it last appeared publicly at auction in 2014, where it realized a price of approximately 821,000 CHF. This specific piece is noted for its transition from the experimental No. 169 to a functional commercial format, marking a pivotal development in nineteenth-century precision timekeeping.