The Past And Future Align As F.P. Journe’s Breguet Sympathique N°1 Returns To Auction

As the watch world celebrates 250 years of Breguet- a brand synonymous with invention, refinement, and horological legacy- one exceptional creation is stepping back into the spotlight. At the upcoming Geneva Watch Auction: XXI, held by Phillips in Association with Bacs & Russo on 10–11 May 2025, collectors will witness the return of a remarkable tribute to Breguet’s ingenuity: the Breguet Sympathique N°1, designed and built by François-Paul Journe in 1991.

This one-of-a-kind set, a grand Empire-style master clock paired with a matching yellow gold tourbillon wristwatch, is more than a technical achievement. It’s a symbolic bridge between two eras: the pioneering genius of Abraham-Louis Breguet and the modern independent spirit of F.P. Journe. With an estimate in excess of CHF 1,000,000, the Sympathique N°1 is poised to become one of the most historically significant lots of the season.

A Vision Reimagined

Originally conceived in 1795, Breguet’s Pendule Sympathique was a revolutionary system where a paired pocket watch could be automatically wound, set, and adjusted by a table clock. Only eleven were ever made each a masterwork of mechanical creativity.

Fast forward to 1991, when François-Paul Journe then leading Technique Horlogère Appliquée (THA) alongside Denis Flageollet and Dominique Mouret was commissioned by Breguet to revive this lost complication for the landmark “Art of Breguet” exhibition and auction. The result was the Sympathique N°1, a technical and artistic homage that reimagined Breguet’s invention for the modern era.

The Clock and the Watch

The Sympathique clock, measuring 255mm in height, features a brass base and yellow gold panels with classical architectural detailing designed by horological illustrator David Penney. It incorporates a moon-phase, equation of time, thermometer, and full calendar (day, date, and month).

Its companion — a 36mm yellow gold wristwatch — is no less impressive, with a tourbillon, moon-phase display, and power reserve indicator in a clean regulator-style layout. When docked into the clock, the wristwatch is automatically wound, set, and its balance regulated to the clock — echoing Breguet’s original concept with 20th-century precision.

A Collector’s Milestone

First unveiled at the “Art of Breguet” auction in Geneva on 14 April 1991, the Sympathique N°1 sold for CHF 1,546,250, a groundbreaking result at the time. It has remained in the same private collection ever since — until now. As Breguet marks its quarter-millennium milestone, the reappearance of this piece is both timely and symbolic. It captures the essence of what makes watchmaking extraordinary: the meeting of legacy, innovation, and the human hand.

As Alexandre Ghotbi, Head of Watches, Europe & Middle East, and Tiffany To, Head of Sale at Phillips, noted: “To paraphrase Sir David Salomons, the Breguet Sympathique N°1 offers the extraordinary sensation of having Breguet’s genius reimagined for modern times through the vision of F.P. Journe and THA — placing the brilliance of these watchmaking masters on your mantelpiece, in your pocket, or on your wrist.”

It’s a rare moment when horological past and future align so perfectly. And this May in Geneva, that moment will once again come to life.