Emmanuel Breguet, the seventh generation member of the Breguet family, Vice President of Breguet and Director of the Breguet Museum, is honored to share his thoughts on the timepieces created by the founder of the brand, Mr. Abraham-Louis Breguet, who combined rationality and neoclassicism since the brand's inception in 1775, as well as the classic designs and innovative inventions of Breguet, which have continuously broken through the boundaries of watchmaking and reshaped artistic aesthetics across more than two centuries of history.
Carry on the past and tell the new, and the craftsmanship is melodious. Following the live stream, Breguet hosted the 2024 Masterpiece Appreciation Event, which was attended by Emmanuel Breguet to share the brand's rich history and the essence of Haute Horlogerie with the media. Breguet's new creations are also showcased at the tasting, where each new timepiece combines the Maison's watchmaking expertise and craftsmanship, celebrating a timeless heritage and a relentless quest for innovation.
The seventh generation member of the Breguet family, Mr. Emmanuel Breguet, Vice President of Breguet and Director of the Breguet Museum
Chronicle time, skill resonance
The livestream was shared at the Breguet Museum of Contemporary Arts, Shanghai, which was renovated in October 2023 and features a thoughtful design that deeply inherits Breguet's classic aesthetics and incorporates modern fashion elements, showcasing the close integration of time and art, as well as exquisite watchmaking craftsmanship and unique cultural heritage. The 11 vintage Breguet timepieces on display are undoubtedly treasures in the history of watchmaking. They have witnessed the evolution of the Breguet Maison, as well as its innovation and exploration in the art of watchmaking.
The imprint of time, the glory continues
The Breguet No.324 "Subscription" pocket watch is a historic example of the watchmaking and commercial flair of the brand's founder, Abraham-Louis Breguet. Introduced in 1797, the "Subscription" pocket watch required a deposit of a quarter of the total price when ordering a piece. In addition, the simplicity of its single hand to indicate the hours and minutes is a testament to Breguet's stylistic innovation. This simplicity of the enamel dial contrasts with Monsieur Breguet's later sumptuous and complex creations, such as the No. 160 "Marie Antoinette" pocket watch, and is a testament to his mastery of creating not only luxurious and complex timekeeping works of art, but also masterful creations of simple yet subtle classics. Both the aesthetics and the inner movement of the No.324 "Subscription" pocket watch embody Mr. Breguet's understanding of the art of watchmaking, which is not only a tool for recording time, but also a masterpiece of technology and art.
宝玑No.324 "Subscription"预定怀表
In 1799, the founder, Mr. Breguet, introduced the first touch watch using the same movement as the "Subscription" pocket watch. At that time, the lighting conditions were poor, and it was difficult to read the time on the dial, and it was considered indecent to look at the watch in public. For this reason, the founders of Breguet conceived a pocket watch that could be read by touch, without having to take it out of its pocket, but by touching the arrows or hands on the outside of the case and comparing it with the raised hour markers on the outer edge. Breguet No. The 617 Touch pocket watch, with its diamond-encrusted arrow hands and touch points, is unique and represents an example of Mr. Breguet's innovative thinking. Napoleon's beloved, Empress Josephine, also purchased a Breguet touch pocket watch numbered No.611, marking the beginning of the indissoluble bond between the French royal family and Breguet.
宝玑No. 611触摸表和宝玑No. 617触摸表
Lingyun silver wings, galloping through the sky
In the 20th century, Breguet was equally passionate about the adventures of human exploration of the skies. The Breguet Type XX collection is a symbol of the brand's profound influence on the aviation industry, a continuation of Mr. Breguet's quest for chronometric precision, mechanical innovation and functionality, and a symbol of the combination of Breguet's watchmaking art and aviation technology.
宝玑 Type XX Chronograph 2067精钢表链款(左)
宝玑 Type 20 Chronograph 2057精钢表链款(右)
In 2023, after four years of meticulous research and development, Breguet unveils a new generation of iconic Type XX watches, renewing the brand's deep ties with the aviation industry. This year, Breguet has launched a new stainless steel bracelet model for the Type 20 military model and the Type XX civilian model, which will be showcased in this sharing. The design of the stainless steel bracelet further underlines the brand's attention to detail. The bracelet is equipped with a "comfort easy-fit" system that allows the wearer to easily adjust the length of the bracelet to suit their needs. The watch has a modern style, with a black dial with Arabic numerals and triangular markers on the bezel coated with green luminescent coating, as well as a new date window between 4 and 5 o'clock. Both models are equipped with the famous "flyback" function, which instantly resets and simultaneously restarts the chronograph function. The Breguet Type XX collection is both part of aviation history and a masterpiece of artistic and technical resonance.
Under the theme of "Renewal and Renewal – The Legend of Breguet Contemporary Art", guests will not only be able to appreciate the glorious history of the Breguet brand, but also witness its innovative future. Combining technical excellence with aesthetics, the Maison has created some of the most iconic designs and inventions in the world of Haute Horlogerie. In the future, we will continue to be driven by innovation, inherit the classics, explore the mysteries of time, and present more amazing timepieces to the world.