Antique French Breguet à Paris Memento Mori Skull Pocket Watch c1790 Gilt Bronze

An exceptionally rare and visually striking 18th-century French memento mori pocket watch, signed “Breguet à Paris”, dating to circa 1790’s. This is an extraordinary survival from the Enlightenment era, combining high horology with powerful symbolic artistry focused on vanitas and mortality.

The watch is housed in a gilt bronze (ormolu) chased case, measuring approximately 55 mm, decorated throughout with finely modeled skull, skeleton, serpent, coffin, and funeral motifs—a classic memento mori program reminding the wearer of the transience of life.

The dial features dramatic imagery centered around Death personified, consistent with late-18th-century French allegorical design. The movement is an early French verge movement, finely engraved and signed Breguet à Paris, consistent with period Parisian workshop practices.

This is not a later fantasy piece—its construction, materials, engraving style, and wear are all consistent with an original 18th-century object.

KEY DETAILS

• Maker: Breguet à Paris (signed)
• Origin: France
• Date: Circa 1790s
• Type: Memento Mori Pocket Watch
• Case Material: Gilt bronze / ormolu, finely chased
• Case Diameter: Approx. 55 mm
• Movement: Early French verge movement, engraved
• Dial: Hand-decorated allegorical memento mori scene
• Theme: Skull, Death, Skeleton, Vanitas symbolism

CONDITION

• Genuine antique condition consistent with age
• Case shows surface wear, patina, and losses to gilding consistent with 18th-century ormolu
• Movement intact (running condition not guaranteed unless otherwise stated)
• Dial and hands original with age-appropriate wear

Please review all images carefully—they form part of the description.

APPRAISAL & DOCUMENTATION

 Includes a professional appraisal certificate valuing the watch at USD $7,000

The certificate will accompany the watch and is suitable for insurance or private collection records.

COLLECTOR NOTES

Memento mori watches of this quality and age are exceptionally scarce, particularly examples signed for Paris and housed in sculptural figural cases. Such watches were often produced for aristocratic or intellectual patrons and are now found almost exclusively in museum or advanced private collections.

This piece would be equally at home in:

• A serious horological collection
• A cabinet of curiosity
• A museum or academic collection
• A high-end gothic or vanitas art collection

SHIPPING & GUARANTEE

• Professionally packed
• Fully insured shipping
• Shipped from a trusted antique dealer
• Guaranteed authentic as described