Sotheby’s to auction rare Breguet timepieces, including King George IV’s watch

An auction that explores Breguet history

By Nathan S.R Published February 7, 2025

Breguet — Breguet Breguet / Breguet

Sotheby’s will host one of the largest watch auction events in 2025, focusing only on Breguet watches. Since 2025 is Breguet’s 250th anniversary, Sotheby’s will do something special to honor one of the most popular watch brands of the 21st century.

Well, Breguet has a very rich history, so rare timepieces might pop up at this auction event. Sotheby, in partnership with Breguet, will unveil one of the most sought-after timepieces of all time—a perpétuelle tact watch that was created for King George IV. The watch dates back to 1827, and has both a date display and a power reserve. The king’s monogram is featured on the caseback.

Recommended Videos

While this auction event will mark an important milestone, it will also explore Breguet’s history.

Breuget’s CEO, Gregory Kissling, said, “As we celebrate this milestone anniversary, we are honoring the creative genius of Abraham-Louis Breguet and his many inventions. These historic timepieces, each holding a unique story, are now ready to continue their journey.”

Daryn Schnipper, Chairman Emeritus of Sotheby’s Watches, added, “Given our distinguished and unparalleled history of bringing Breguet timepieces to auction, it is our honor and privilege to curate a special sale in celebration of the brand’s 250th anniversary. Abraham-Louis Breguet is perhaps the greatest watchmaker of them all – he profoundly influenced the course of horological history and laid the foundations of contemporary watchmaking.”

While this is just a preview of everything, the two organizations, Sotheby’s and Breguet, will provide more information in the coming months. The auction will take place November 9 in Geneva.

Topics

Watches

Nathan has devoted his life to collecting watches, studying horology, reviewing watches, and writing about timepieces. As a…

Fashion & Style

Aquastar’s Benthos Heritage II watch honors the past with a sleek update

You'll love the new Benthos Heritage II

Aquastar Benthos Heritage II

Aquastar has been rebuilding its legacy in recent years and is now on its A-game, thanks to the new Benthos Heritage II. It's based on a diver watch from the 20th century. Back then, the brand was quite popular for its diver collection. In fact, the Benthos 500 was the go-to watch for the US Navy and other divers in the '70s.

While the new model is not quite similar to the original, it is a continuation of the series, a successor of the watches that came before. The brand implemented the feedback it got from its customers, and one of the most sought-after features was a smaller and compact casing.

Fashion & Style

Breguet’s Classique Tourbillon: A dazzling mix of diamonds and precision

A new Breguet timepiece that's covered in diamonds

Breguet Classique Tourbillion 3358

The latest Breguet watch is a marvelous piece with beautiful diamonds and a unique design. It symbolizes the brand’s innovative spirit and horological elegance, passed down through time. Thanks to a unique stone-setting technique, the watch has an elegant pattern that makes the dial stand out. According to Breguet, the Classique Tourbillion 3358 is the embodiment of Abraham Louis Breguet's ideas, which date back to 1801.

Abraham Louis, the founder of the brand, came up with a unique technique of setting gems on a watch’s dial in the 19th century. While this timepiece has a dazzling front face, it also stands out due to its mechanical precision. Abraham Louis’ innovations merged these two fields into one—mechanical precision and style.

Fashion & Style

Peter Speake’s PS Horology celebrates heritage with Tsuba and Dong Son timepieces

PS Horology celebrates Japanese culture and ancient Vietnamese civilization with new watches

PS Horology Tsuba watch

This new watch collection is the brainchild of Peter Speake, a popular horologist who merges two worlds into one with his stunning designs and timepieces. His first brand, Speake-Marin, is well-known for its stylish watches.

The Tsuba watch is his latest project under his new brand, PS Horology. As the name hints, the watch is inspired by an old Japanese hand guard, fixed on Japanese swords to separate the handle from the blade.