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We’ve done it before and we’re doing it again.  Take a guess at how much this incredible, previously unknown Breguet “Resonance” pocketwatch will sell for in today’s Christie’s sale, and whoever guesses closest, will win a year’s subscription to the incredible Christie’s auction catalogs, which are fast becoming the most interesting horological history books in the world.

Your guess should be the final hammer price plus commission, in Swiss Francs.  Be sure to leave a working email address with your guess.  Have at it!

From:HODINKEE

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Yesterday we showed you what could be one the most important collections of modern watches (20th century – now) in those of Henry Graves Jr and his grandson Pete Fullerton, which will be available via Sotheby’s this June.  Today we are showing you what could be one of the greatest finds in pre-modern watches.  If you think now is a good time to be building a world-class collection, you’d be right, because what Christie’s Geneva has in its May sale is from another world.

Abraham-Louis Breguet is certainly the godfather of modern watchmaking.  The lists of firsts to his name is staggering, and it was he who is credited for constructing the very first wristwatch for Caroline Murat, queen of Naples, in 1810.  But on the technical front, Breguet is likely best known for the invention of the tourbillon.  What isn’t as widely known, is that Breguet also created the very first watch with two distinct movements, creating a type of “resonance”.  Now a certain watchmaker today by the name of Francois-Paul Journe makes a watch called Resonance, which we’ve explained here, and indeed the principles are the same.  But, Breguet made these resonance pocketwatches in the early 1800s, and he did so for only two people – King George IV (1762-1830) of Great Britain and Ireland, and Louis XVIII (1755-1824), King of France.  Or so we thought.

From:HODINKEE

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You won’t see us commenting on the Russian Orthodox Church or its affairs too often around here, but a recent story about a certain watch that Patriarch Kirill may or may not wear was too good to pass up. The story begins with a picture taken in 2009, depicting the watch less Patriarch sitting with a Russian justice minister. Nothing unusual about that, except that on closer inspection, within the reflection of the table, a watch is clearly present on his wrist, indicating the presence of some photo trickery on behalf of the ROC, who posted the image on their website. What’s the big deal? The watch is a $ 30,000 Breguet, and it seems Russians have grown sensitive to the Church’s lavish displays of wealth.

From:HODINKEE

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Breguet continues with its perfect harmony of science and innovation with timepiece Classique Chronométrie 7727. Breguet famous founder, Abraham-Louis Breguet continues to be the driving force in the development and innovative designs of its exquisite timepieces. Using the fundamentals of research and development, instrumental to its watch making designs, Breguet for its second year revealed and unveiled its innovative talents with Classique Chronométrie 7727 at BaselWorld 2012.

Classique Chronométrie 7727 is a tribute to Abraham-Louis Breguet’s indomitable pioneering spirit of innovation. His portfolio of inventions, to name a few, includes the Souscription watch design and the complex mechanism design for the tourbillon. Viewing the Breguet Classique Chronométrie 7727 it is understandable why Breguet thrives to promote their founders legacy in each of its watch designs. President and CEO Marc A. Hayek supports and cultivates investments in research and development of new technologies and materials, which Breguet successfully filed for over 100 patents in the past 10 years for its for chronometry and acoustic regulators.

Classique Chronométrie 7727 represents Breguet continued quest to accurately measure time. The watch is set in rose gold and exhibits Breguet’s latest innovation. The watch oscillates at a frequency of 10 Hz, a first time milestone for a non-chronograph watch considering the frequency was purposed for precision and stability of a conventional mechanical watch. Increasing the frequency and power of the mechanical oscillation improves the timekeeping performance of the balance and spring.

Classique Chronométrie 7727 regulating power is approximately 800 microwatts; most watches have less than 200 microwatts for chronometer performance. Breguet’s silicon mastery enables this high frequency to be achieved with a conventional balance-spring. Since silicon components are easily manufactured for high precision, they are also exceptionally lightweight and non-magnetic. Therefore the watch is equipped with balance-spring, pallet lever and escape-wheel in silicon; and the mainspring barrel of the watch keeps the watch operational for 60 hours.

Classique Chronométrie 7727 aesthetic features include a 41 mm diameter 18-carat gold case with fine ridges on the caseband, a sapphire-crystal case-back with welded lugs. The dial is 18-carat silvered gold, the engine-turned by hand in six different patterns. Individually signed Breguet and numbered. It has an off centered chapter ring with noble Roman numerals. The power-reserve indicator is at 5 o’clock, small seconds at 12 o’clock, and the silicon indicator tenths-of a-second hand is at 1o’clock with “open-moon” Breguet hands in polished steel.

The movement of this watch is hand-wound numbered and signed Breguet Calibre 574 DR, 14 lignes, 45 jewels, with a leather wrist strap.

Classique Chronométrie 7727 is an iconic testament of Breguet’s commitment to harmonize science and innovation in the development and designs of its timepieces. Abraham-Louis Breguet spirit of perfection lives on in Breguet timepieces.

From:Luxury Watches That Impress Review Blog

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Breguet is showing off and taking bare it all literally with its Tradition 7047BR Tourbillon Fusee Timepiece.

Tradition 7047BR Tourbillon Fusee is from Breguet trademark “Tradition” collection and is inspired by its founder Abraham-Louis Breguet 1796 invention of its Souscription watch design. Breguet Tradition 7047BR Tourbillon Fusee is a traditionally inspired timepiece that exhibits classically refined elegance and artistic design.

This timepiece is a technical concerto orchestrating its beautiful handcrafted composition with three visible distinctive movements for which Breguet obtained four patents for its rivaled operating system. It is as the French so often say, “C’est tres magnifique,” translated “It’s very magnificent!”

Breguet Tradition 7047BR Tourbillon Fusee joins its existing collection members in yellow gold and platinum. It features a visible tourbillon and showcases its fusee and chain transmission, along with Breguets’ signature silicon balance spring which was first introduced in its watches in 2006.

Technical Attributes include:

• 41 mm diameter case in 18k rose gold with a fine ridged caseband
• Beautiful sapphire crystal case-back with rounded lugs welded to the case and screw-secured spring bars
• Water resistant to a depth of 30 meter
• Dials are available in black-coated or platinum-coated engine-turned in 18k gold or platinum with noble Roman numerals and Breguets’ signature polished steel moon-tip hands
• The 60-second tourbillon is displayed at 1 o’clock
• Available in brown or black alligator wrist straps
• The movement is exclusively numbered and signed Breguet Calibre 569 with 16 lignes, 43 jewels and anthracite coated hand-wound tourbillon
• It has an impressive 50-hour power reserve with indicator on the barrel drum
• The fusee-and-chain transmission ensures constant torque throughout the operation of the watch
• Titanium upper bridge of the tourbillon carriage
• Straight-line Swiss lever escapement
• Breguet titanium balance with four gold adjustment screws

These are just a few of the very impressive features and design attributes of this luxurious timepiece composition that Breguet has meticulously orchestrated in its Tradition 7047BR Tourbillon Fusee watch.

Breguet unveiled the Tradition 7047BR Tourbillon Fusee 18k rose gold watch at BaselWorld 2012. Breguet has also re-editioned the rose gold version of its Tradition 7047PT which also features a Breguet balance spring, along with a new black galvanic-coated and engine-turned 18-carat gold dial.

Breguet Tradition 7047BR Tourbillon Fusee bares itself to the haute horlogerie industry exposing its heart and soul playing out not only the notes of time but its divinely composed concerto of visual technical brilliance and Breguets’ ability to transcend artistic timepiece development and design – Brava Breguet, Brava!

From:Luxury Watches That Impress Review Blog

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The watchmakers at Breguet have wished a very happy bicentennial to their own very first recorded wristwatch in an exhibition that started on January 16^th and ended last Sunday (Feb 12^th). The exhibition was held in Geneva’s Cité du Temps, and was coincided with the prestigious Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie (SIHH ). The Geneva exhibition is designed for visitors to discover the unique history of this groundbreaking timepiece and the mystery of what became of it.

Caroline Murat, Queen of Naples, first wristwatch owner

As far as horological history can tell us the first record of a wristwatch was ordered by Napoleon Bonaparte’s sister, Caroline Murat in 1810. At the time, Murat sat on the throne as the Queen of Naples, and was a well-known admirer of the timepieces made by Breguet founder, Abraham-Louis Breguet. Yes, Breguet can say they made the first wristwatch for a queen. Queen Caroline’s wristwatch took two years to make and safely deliver, and was only one of the many she ordered from Breguet over the years.

Though the famous first wristwatch has never been found in any public or private collection, the little that is known of it is that the model number was N° 2639.

Nevertheless, Queen Caroline’s special relationship as the favorite customer of Breguet during this time produced something revolutionary. The watch as we know it was a very thin (for the time) repeating watch, had an oblong feminine shape, was set with a thermometer and used  hair intertwined with gold thread to create the strap. The concept must have certainly been innovative and fascinating for the time. As Queen Caroline was known to history as extravagant and ambitious, it is no surprise that she would dream up an ostentatious new watch to be paraded on her wrist at court.

A Reine de Naples watch, inspired by the first wristwatch

The event in Geneva was also used by Breguet to celebrate the 10^th anniversary of the more modern Reine de Naples ladies’ watch collection. The public re-discovery of the Reine de Naples collection also allowed for many experts in the horological field to offer their expertise on the Breguet line. These women’s watches are very much reminiscent of Alice in Wonderland, with their exaggerated and surreal numbers spinning around the watch’s face. Breguet’s official website states that the line was inspired by Queen Caroline’s first wristwatch, as well as others made for Marie Antoinnette and Empress Josephine. The collection was designed to create a symbol of feminine refinement and precision.

From:Luxury Watches That Impress Review Blog

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The Breguet La Tradition was launched in the mid-2000s to much fanfare and many subsequently mixed reviews amongst fans and connoisseurs – here was a watch that put the escapement on the dial side, was constructed in a very traditional 18th century style (note the odd, almost arbitrary shape of the bridges and sub-plates), finished unusually (but very well indeed) and launched at a reasonably accessible price for what it offered.

Even the architecture was pretty unusual: the time dial was pushed to the top of the watch, regulateur-style, with the barrel in the center and going train laid out across the bottom of the watch. There’s also a little power reserve indicator tucked away at top-right, minimally decorated so as not to interfere with the symmetric aesthetic of the watch.

But then we turned it over, and were surprised by the vast emptiness on the top plate – sure, most of the going train was put on the front, but I think what looked odd to most people was not the emptiness – but the vertical height between the top plate and rear sapphire. I was told that this was the way watches during that period were designed and laid out; no milled recesses for components, just a plate with everything else bolted on to it. I still think a little deviation here and there for the sake of aesthetics would be acceptable – there’s no way they’d use 18th century oils on the escapement, either.

The La Tradition line has spawned a number of complications, some of which do actually use the extra space on the top plate to good effect – the tourbillon, for instance both fills out the front of the dial and the top plate well. It just looks more ‘complete’ to the eye. Whilst I personally prefer the monochrome color scheme with WG case and anthracite dial (similar to the tourbillon) – there’s no denying that the traditional gold version has its appeal too.

But enough of that, to the photographs. As usual, clicking on any of them will bring you to a larger version. The series was shot with a mix of equipment – the Nikon D700 and 60/2.8 macro; Leica M9-P, bellows and Zeiss 2/50 Planar; and finally, the Olympus Pen Mini. Furthermore, if you’re interested in how I made some of the higher magnification ones, please have a look at these two articles on my photography site (The never-ending quest for more magnification; Macrophotography and the Leica M) which both go into more of the technical details. MT

From:FratelloWatches RSS

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Admirers of Breguet can now keep up with every event held, every new insight and every new treasure that the brand releases with its new corporate magazine “Le Quai De L’Horloge”. This January marked the first edition to be released of this publication. This magazine will be published annually. If you are interested in purchasing this magazine, one can do so through an authorized Breguet dealer. Inside this Breguet publication one will find technical, historical and cultural articles, all meant to bring a philosophical feel to the reader. Breguet is currently working on creating an app for the iPad so that this magazine can be viewed electronically, thus making it available to a larger range of audience.

Breguet's first edition of Le Quai De L'Horloge

This magazine’s main focus revolves around the brand’s philosophy, its amazing heritage, the precise expertise, the cultural perspective, its unique products, the brand’s high ranking partnerships, as well as its impressive aesthetics and technical innovation. Within this publication one will discover historical facts about the first wristwatch to ever be made for the Queen of Naples in 1812. One can read interesting details on the extraordinary life of Abraham-Louis Breguet. One can also get the latest gossip on the newest wristwatch creations, as well as the latest technology secrets from Breguet.

Breguet offers this magazine to a wide portion of the world. It’s available in eight languages, Spanish, English, French, Italian, Japanese, Russian, German and simplified Chinese. The magazine was named after a road in Paris that was named Le Quai De L’Horloge and is also known to be the location of the first Breguet watchmaking company. The road was named Le Quai De L’Horloge because of the vicinity of the clock of the Palais de Justice.

Since Breguet is one of the finest luxury watchmakers in the world, this magazine doesn’t appeal to just the Breguet followers, it attracts luxury watch lovers all around the world. People who respect the Breguet brand are very excited about this publication and can’t wait to get their hands on a fresh copy.

Breguet was founded by A.L. Breguet (1747-1823) who happens to be known as one of the fathers of time. The brand has been a part of the Swatch Group since 1999 and continues to make technological success as we go into 2012. Breguet is certainly number one when it comes to luxury watchmaking. Breguet expects the publication of Le Quai De L’Horloge to be a hit amongst its buyers.

From:Luxury Watches That Impress Review Blog

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Written by: Lisa Pearson

Parisian luxury watchmaker Breguet was established in 1775 by Abraham-Louis Breguet. The Breguet company is one of the eldest watch making institutions who are still in business and also pioneered numerous advances in the production of watches. The most notable technology invented by Breguet is the tourbillon which is an addition to the mechanics of a watch escapement.

Historically, Breguet garnered attention and praise by royalty such as Queen Marie Antoinette and King Louis XVI; although countless distinguished individuals donned a Breguet timepiece in their time. Louis XVI was known to commission the watchmaker to create several timepieces. According to historical legend, a secret admirer of Marie Antoinette commissioned Breguet to make a timepiece with every possible watch function available at the time to be created for her.

Unfortunately, the piece was finished 34 years after Marie Antoinette passed on thus the piece was never presented to her.  The piece did go on to become Breguet’s magnum opus, the Marie Antoinette; however, Breguet was not partial to Marie Antoinette. The Queen of Naples Caroline Murat was also a “preferred customer” of Breguet.

Marie Antoinette and the famed Grande Complication pocket watch she never got to see

Breguet was acquired by the Swatch Group in 1976 and their timepieces are now made in Vallée de Joux, Switzerland as a result. The acquisition did not change Breguet’s trailblazing yet classic timepieces. They continued to create classic watches with both modern and vintage looks along with their innovative watch making technology.

Notably, in January 2012 Breguet is honoring the Queen of Naples with an exposition convened in Geneva’s Cité du Temps as well as the 200^th anniversary of their first wristwatch. The exhibit will celebrate the 200th anniversary of the creation of the first wristwatch in horological history along with the 10^th anniversary of their Reine de Naples ladies’ watch collection which is in honor of Caroline Murat, the Queen of Naples.

The Breguet Reine de Naples watch

The Reine de Naples watch collection is an assortment of fashionale women’s watches that emulate the design of the first watch made for a queen, namely the Queen of Naples. The timepiece can be considered wearable art with its oval shape, subtle yet enchanting details, and various dials and accents. One can truly envision these pieces being worn by royalty and can appreciate all of the workmanship that went into creating each part of the watch.

The Breguet exhibition which will be running January 16^th-February 12^th, 2012, is said to coincide with the SIHH, the Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie, which is an exclusive fine watch event held in Geneva, Switzerland.

From:Luxury Watches That Impress Review Blog

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In the watch world diamonds seem to make just about everything better. This Ref. 5839 Marine Troubillon High Jewellery watch is a diamond encrusted version of the Ref. 5937 from a few years ago. Breguet outfitted the watch case and dial with an impressive amount of diamonds, but still was able to retain that signature Breguet Marine watch look.

The 43mm wide 18k white gold case as about 11.77 carats of stones on it. One of the neatest parts is how Breguet was able to maintain the coined edge of the case using specially cut diamonds. Also not the unique pattern the diamonds create for the bezel. On the dial smaller diamonds are set in the middle of the dial and don’t overshadow the hands. The dial itself is silvered 18k gold. Overall Breguet did a great job giving a men’s jewelry watch a functional face.

Inside the watch is a Breguet caliber 554.4 manually wound tourbillon movement with the time and a chronograph complication. The watch has 50 hours of power reserve with special features that include a silicium balance spring and escapement wheel.

Ariel Adams publishes the luxury watch reviews site aBlogtoRead.com.

Filed under: Timepieces / Watches

Breguet Marine Tourbillon Ref. 5839 High Jewellery Chronograph Watch originally appeared on Luxist on Sun, 15 May 2011 12:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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