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1Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches2Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems3Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteSotheby’s completed its Geneva sale celebrating Breguet’s 250th anniversary in 2025. The auction page lists 70 results for a sale window of 24 October to 9 November; Breguet had described the event as the largest auction dedicated to the Maison in more than 30 years. Notable lots included a four-minute tourbillon, a watch made for King George IV and a limited-edition anniversary wristwatch.
What was Sotheby’s Breguet auction?
Announced by Breguet on 30 January 2025, the sale was organized in collaboration with the Maison as part of its 250th-anniversary program. Breguet called it the largest sale dedicated to the brand in over 30 years. That is the brand’s characterization; the available information does not provide a quantified comparison of every Breguet-focused sale over that period. Breguet’s announcement set out the plan, and Sotheby’s sale page records the completed event.
Sotheby’s lists the sale window as 24 October–9 November 2025 and shows 70 results. A separate report by Time and Watches, published 11 November 2025, says the Geneva auction was held on 8 November. These are different descriptions: the official page gives the sale window, while the 8 November date is the secondary report’s account of the live auction. Time and Watches’ post-sale report also gives results for several headline lots.
Which watches stood out?
No. 1890: an early four-minute tourbillon
Lot 9, Breguet No. 1890, was an 18-carat gold four-minute tourbillon with échappement naturel and other complications. Sotheby’s catalogue records that it was delivered to Frédéric Frackmann in 1809 and sold to Comte Alexis Razoumoffsky. Time and Watches reported a sale price of CHF 1,880,000, against a pre-sale estimate of CHF 350,000–700,000.
No. 4548: a watch made for King George IV
Lot 51 was a perpétuelle à tact made for King George IV in 1827. It displays the date and power reserve, and its caseback bears the king’s monogram. Sotheby’s catalogue identifies it as Breguet No. 4548 and records its sale to the king on 3 July 1827. Time and Watches reported a sale price of CHF 762,000, against an estimate of CHF 300,000–800,000.
No. 250: the anniversary Souscription
Lot 46, Breguet No. 250, reference 2025BH/28/9W6, was a limited-edition Souscription wristwatch made in 2025 for the anniversary. Time and Watches reported that it sold for CHF 82,550.
The three reported prices above are from Time and Watches, not figures independently calculated here. Sotheby’s says results shown on its sale page include any Sotheby’s premiums and exclude applicable taxes and costs. That distinction matters when comparing a displayed result with a buyer’s full outlay.
What else was in the catalogue?
The 70-result catalogue covered more than the three headline pieces. It included historical pocket watches and clocks, marine chronometers, carriage clocks, chronographs and modern Breguet wristwatches. The catalogue’s range does not mean those categories were equally represented or prominent.
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- 2nd time-zone sub-dial located at the 6 o'clock position
- AM/PM sub-dial indicator located at the 3 o'clock position
- Polished 18kt rose gold case
- Hand engraved (engine-turned) guilloche black dial
The sale brought together pieces from different periods and watch types, so a headline price alone is a poor basis for comparing lots. For collectors, useful points of comparison include the complication and technical features, provenance, condition and completeness, estimate, realized price, and whether the quoted amount includes premiums or excludes taxes and other costs.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What should buyers check in an auction catalogue?
A catalogue entry and result do not, by themselves, establish a watch’s present service needs or guarantee that every component is original. Sotheby’s buyer notices on a separate lot page illustrate cautions that can apply to auction lots: movements may need servicing; repairs or restoration can affect component authenticity; and straps may be removed. Those notices are illustrative, not a substitute for the terms attached to a particular 2025 lot.
- Read the specific lot description and the sale conditions rather than assuming one notice applies identically to every watch.
- Check the stated provenance, condition and completeness against the catalogue entry.
- Inspect the lot where possible and account for any premium, applicable taxes and other costs when assessing the total purchase.
Sotheby’s buyer information and lot notices provide an example of the kinds of terms bidders should review; they are not the 2025 sale’s lot-specific conditions.
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