Two letters demonstrating Breguet's historic ties with Russia are now part of the Breguet Museum collections
Two letters demonstrating Breguet's historic ties with Russia are now part of the Breguet Museum collections
On behalf of Breguet and our President & CEO, Marc A. Hayek, we are pleased to announce the acquisition of two historic letters recently auctioned by Delorme & Collin du Bocage in Paris. These two rare documents attesting to the Manufacture's historic ties with Russia have been added to the Breguet Museum collection.
When Abraham-Louis Breguet first embarked on the business of exporting his timepieces, he was immediately drawn to Russia. The watchmaker received such acclaim in that region that he was encouraged in 1808 to take the unprecedented gamble of opening a branch in Saint Petersburg. Christened the “Maison de Russie,”the venture came to an abrupt end three years later when, amidst a climate of mounting political tensions between Russia and France, Tsar Alexander I banned French imports from entering his territory. Breguet hoped that the excellent reputation of his branch in Russia would survive the crisis. Fortunately, a loyal Russian clientèle continued to solicit the craftsmanship of Breguet. The conclusion of the crisis was marked by a particularly symbolic sale. As Napoleon's France capitulated before a large Russian-led coalition in March 1814, a mysterious client arrived at the Breguet workshop on Quai de l’Horloge: it was none other than the Emperor of all Russia himself, Tsar Alexander I, travelling incognito and accompanied only by his manservant. The Tsar purchased two pieces and commissioned a series of pedometers to regulate the steps of his troops.
The first of the two documents acquired at auction testifies to this special relationship. It is a letter to Abraham-Louis Breguet requesting repair of one of the pieces purchased by the Tsar. The letter, written by the Tsar’s Chief of General Staff, Prince Pyotr Mikhailovich Volkonsky, states: “The watch that His Majesty The Emperor purchased from you has been disturbed. His Majesty has ordered me to send it to you and kindly requests that you repair it.”The correspondence is dated December 1814, mere months after the fall of Napoleon.
The second letter attests to the influence exerted by the Russian sovereign on his peers. It is a letter from Prince Nikita Grigorievich Volkonsky who writes to the master watchmaker that, while he praises his Breguet timepiece (“the precision of its function is admirable”), he is forced to return it to the watchmaker since he is unable to gather the necessary funds to purchase it.
We are honoured to add these historic letters addressed to Abraham-Louis Breguet to the Breguet archives, illustrating the admiration of the Russian clientele during the period when Breguet timepieces were produced on Quai de l’Horloge.