Breguet was founded in 1775 by Abraham-Louis Breguet. Abraham was a Swiss watchmaker who was born in January of 1747 in Neuchâtel, Switzerland. Breguet’s father’s died in 1758. Some years later, Abraham’s mother remarried to Joseph Tattet. Tattet came from a family of watchmakers. They moved to Paris where they had a showroom. The family tried to draw Abraham into the trade. Eventually he found interest and in 1762 he was sent to be apprenticed to a Versailles master watchmaker. Abraham studied watchmaking for 10 years under Ferdinand Berthoud and Jean-Antoine Lépine before setting up his own watchmaking business in Paris, France. The business was a success. Breguet made three series of watches, and the highest numbering of the three reached 5120. It is estimated that his shop produced around 17,000 timepieces during Breguet’s life. Because of his minute attention to detail and his constant experimentation, no two Breguet pieces are exactly alike.
His achievements soon attracted a wealthy and influential clientele: Louis XVI and his Queen Marie-Antoinette, Louis XVIII, Napoleon Bonaparte, and the 1st Duke of Wellington to name a few. In 1783, Breguet invented the gong spring for the minute repeater. He also designed the famous open-tipped hands known as “Breguet hands” and Breguet’s Arabic numerals. Later, in 1789, he invented the ratchet key known as the “Breguet key” which allows the escapement to work without oil.
In 1807, he took on his son Louis-Antoine as his partner, renaming the firm “Breguet et Fils” (Breguet and Sons). Louis-Antoine took over the firm upon the death of his father in 1823. After a couple of generations taking over the business, Abraham-Louis’ great-grandson, Louis Antoine (1851-1882) was the last of the Breguet family to run the business. The Breguet company hired English watchmaker Edward Brown to manage the factory. Brown eventually became a partner and, after Breguet’s grandson’s death, the owner and head of the company.
To this day, watches are manufactured that are committed to the famous tradition of Brequet horology. The best known models among these are: Grande Complication, Aeronavale Type XX, Heritage, Flying Tourbillon, Marine and the Classique series. The Classique exemplifies the watchmaking ideals of precision, clarity and elegant lines. Whether extra-thin models or complicated watches, they are all true to the technical principles, the artistry and the traditional values of Breguet.
The noble elements of the past, used in some models, such as the decoration of dials in the technique of “hot enamel” (grand feu) or hand-painted Arabic numerals, will cause genuine admiration among collectors and connoisseurs of the brand.
Classique wristwatch in 18-carat rose gold. Bezel set with 84-diamonds, approx. 0.634ct. Self-winding movement with date. Balance spring, lever and escape wheel in silicon. White “grand feu” enamel dial with blue hands. Breguet Arabic numerals. Date displayed at the 3 o’clock position. Secret signature. Sapphire caseback. Water-resistant to 3 bar (30m). Diameter 38mm. Also in white gold.
