Classique
The House of Breguet, founded in 1775, is the epitome of excellence in watchmaking and forms part of the European cultural heritage. Breguet creations have graced the wrists of some of the greatest figures in history. Today, the artisans at the House of Breguet continue to make unique works of art that bear witness to the brand’s rich history.
A-L Breguet (1747-1823), born in Neuchatel, Switzerland, founded the Breguet company in 1775 in Paris and created an unparalleled reputation for originality, invention, fine workmanship and elegance. His extraordinary contribution of inventions, still in use today, include:
The gong for repeater watches (1783)
Design for apple-shaped Breguet hands (1783)
Improvement of the lever escapement (1787)
The “pare-chute” anti-shock device (1790)
The retrograde display mechanism (1794)
The Breguet spiral overcoil balance spring (1795)
The tourbillon anti-gravity escapement (1801)
The first wristwatch (1810)
In addition, his highest attention to aesthetic design details can still be witnessed in the dial guilloche, fluted middle case, blued steel hands and Roman numerals. Testament to his achievements and fine craftsmanship, A-L Breguet’s clients were the most wealthy and influential of the period: Louis XVI and his Queen Marie-Antoinette, Louis XVIII, George IV of the United Kingdom, Napoleon Bonaparte, Caroline Murat née Bonaparte (Queen of Naples), Alexander I of Russia, and the Prince of Wales. Today, the Breguet brand continues its philosophy of aesthetic traditionalism plus horological and technical innovation in its seven collections: Tradition, Classique, Marine, Héritage, Type XX/XXI/XXII, Reine de Naples, and High Jewellery.