The watchmaking company that was founded by the one of the world’s greatest visionaries in horology – Abraham-Louis Breguet – has decided to display two magnificent luxury timepieces at the special exhibition of Hong Kong Watch & Clock Fair. The visitors at World brand Piazza had a privilege to see a glistering wristwatch from Reina de Naples series, and another piece with an extra-thin automatic movement from the Classique collection. These products demonstrate the company’s recovery and return to previous glory, following a slight downfall after the multiple changing of owners. The new successful trend has started when the brand with a rich tradition was acquired by Swatch Group which sought to gain respect in the world of high-end watchmaking.
The first of two displayed watches by Breguet derives from the Reine de Naples Collection. The initial piece from this series was made by a great innovator, A.-L. Breguet, for Napoleon Bonapartes’s sister, Caroline, who was the Queen of Naples. The feminine watch, with the Reference 8939BB/6D/J49 DD0D, heavily decorated with a multitude of precious stones, certainly proves its regal background.
It has a bezel and a case set with 76 baguette diamonds, but this is just the beginning. On the chapter ring there are 42 more, while a pear-cut diamond graces its 18-karat white dial at the six o’clock position. The dial is hand-engraved on a rose engine and holds natural mother-of-pearl indexes. Its bracelet is decorated as well, and holds natural pink Akoya pearls from Tahiti (Breguet offers a version with diamonds on the bracelet, too).
The sparkly watch is set in an egg-shaped white gold case which is 38.5 mm high, 30.45 mm wide and 10.05 mm thick. Inside the case is a Calibre 537/1 mechanism. The movement is self-winding with 20 jewels and the frequency of 3 Hz. It involves some of the company’s contribution to the world of fine watches, such as Breguet’s balance-wheel and Breguet’s balance-spring. The movement features a power reserve of 40 hours, water resistance of 15 meters (Who would ever swim with this watch?) and the price of $275,000.
An Extra-Thin Movement in an Elegant Package
The other timepiece at the exhibition is Classique Grande Complication timepiece 5327BA/1E/9V6. The driving force of the watch is an extra-thin movement Calibre 502.3 DRP1, hand engraved, with 38 jewels and 45 hours of power reserve.
The wristwatch from the Classique series is set in an elegant 18-karat yellow gold round case, with 39 mm in diameter and the thickness of 9.95 mm. Its silvered gold hand-engraved dial shows a multitude of information. It includes a perpetual calendar and shows the day, date, month, leap year, as well as the phases and the age of the moon. A power reserve indicator is also present. Just like the first exhibited timepiece, this one also has a transparent case back. Besides, it is water resistant to 30 m, and has the price of approximately $75,000.
