Abraham-Louis Breguet (1747-1823)
Breguet was founded in 1775 by Abraham-Louis Breguet.
Abraham was a Swiss watchmaker who was born in Neuchâtel, Switzerland, but it was in Paris that he spent most of his productive life. No aspect of watchmaking escaped his study, and his inventions were as fundamental to horology as they were varied. His career started with a series of breakthroughs: the development of the successful self-winding perpétuelle watches, the introduction of the gongs for repeating watches and the first shock-protection for balance pivots.
Louis XVI and his Queen, Marie-Antoinette, were early enthusiasts of Breguet’s watchmaking. Each watch from his workshops demonstrated the latest horological improvements in an original movement, mostly fitted with lever or ruby-cylinder escapements that he perfected. Breguet took refuge in Switzerland from the perils of the French Revolution. He returned to Paris overflowing with the ideas that produced the Breguet balance-spring, his first carriage clock (sold to Bonaparte), the “sympathique” clock and its dependent watch, the tact watch, and finally the tourbillon, patented in 1801.
Breguet became the indispensable watchmaker to the scientific, military, financial and diplomatic elites of the age. His timepieces ruled the courts of Europe. For his most celebrated clients, Breguet designed exceptional timepieces. For Caroline Murat, queen of Naples, he conceived in 1810 the world’s very first wristwatch. Honours saluted his enormous contribution to horology. Appointed to the Board of Longitude and as chronometer-maker to the navy, he entered the Academy of Sciences and received the Legion of Honour from the hands of Louis XVIII.
When he died in 1823, all mourned the architect of the greatest revolution in the science and art of time-keeping.
To this day, watches are manufactured that are committed to the famous tradition of Brequet horology.
Whether extra-thin models or complicated watches, they are all true to the technical principles, the artistry and the traditional values of the Breguet watch. Classique wristwatches capture the essence of Breguet’s original features. In some models, the precious materials of former times and fired enamel dials with Arabic numerals will delight Breguet enthusiasts.
The Breguet Classique story can be traced back over 300 years to 1775. Since then, the Swiss watchmaker has become synonymous with luxurious timepieces, which combine tradition with prestige and excellence.
Back in the late 1980s and early 1990s (when Breguet was owned by Investcorp and when Nouvelle Lemania SA was integrated), the brand started to dig up its heritage and use some of its most emblematic pocket watches to create modern wristwatches.
Classique wristwatch in 18-carat rose gold. Self-winding movement engraved by hand, with perpetual calendar showing the day, date, month, leap year and the phases and age of the moon. Balance spring in silicon. Power-reserve indicator. Silvered gold dial, hand-engraved on a rose engine. Blued steel Breguet hands with “apple” tip. Minute markers around the outer rim. Roman numerals. Sapphire caseback. Water-resistant to 3 bar (30m). Diameter 39mm. Also in white gold.
