In 1802, the distinguished Antoine‑César de Choiseul‑Praslin, Duc de Praslin — one of Abraham‑Louis Breguet’s most trusted friends, patrons and financiers — acquired this remarkable montre à tact, Breguet No. 1052. The “tact” watch was conceived so its wearer might tell the time by touch: an arrow on the caseback points to the time in relation to 12 pearl hour markers set into the fluted caseband, allowing discreet time-reading without opening the dial — a favorite among prominent clients such as Empress Joséphine de Beauharnais, the first wife of Napoleon. What makes this example so extraordinary is the escapement: recorded in the Breguet Archives as an “échappement libre à double roue” (free-escapement with double escape-wheels mounted coaxially), it was previously unknown and apparently conceived at a time when Breguet was experimenting at the very edge of horological invention. A Celebration of Breguet’s 250th Anniversary, #SothebysGeneva – Live auction on 9 November at 7:00 P...