The loss of Abraham-Louis Breguet does not mean the end of interest in the House from the elites and other royal families. It is for this reason that Queen Victoria of England purchases a Breguet watch in 1838, a year following her ascent to the throne. The artistic world also presented numerous admirers of Breguet, including the great Italian composer Gioachino Rossini who treats himself to a small simple watch in 1843.
The illustrious Gioachino Rossini once owned Breguet watch number 4604, a simple, modestly sized design displaying the date. It featured an engine-turned gold case, an off-centred silver dial and a lever escapement. This high-quality timepiece was initially purchased by the banker Schickler in 1828 for 3,600 French francs. By the 1830s, the watch had passed to a certain Mr Church. It was then owned by Rossini, who had it serviced in 1843. After the composer’s death, in 1868, his widow continued to have the piece serviced by Breguet.
