Presented for the first time with an iridescent, natural mother-of-pearl dial, the new Classique 9068 watch embodies Breguet’s elegant style of watchmaking in a creation designed for women.
When Abraham-Louis Breguet first set up business in Paris 1775, he flouted the rules by veering away from the then-popular Baroque style of watchmaking, to usher in a style of creativity that brought his timepieces a surprising and pleasing sobriety. The Breguet style – neoclassical and characterized by mechanical reliability – attracted prestigious clients, including Marie Antoinette, and later the Empresses Josephine and Marie-Louise, as well as the Duchess of Wellington.
Today, reflecting the same quest for simplicity, the dial of the new Classique 9068 model is brought to life with iridescent white mother-of-pearl on a fine rose or white gold case, and features 88 brilliant-cut diamonds that illuminate the gold of the bezel and lugs of the bracelet.
The model beats to the rhythm of a self-winding 591A caliber, which is wound up by wrist movement, and is in line with the self-winding watches originally developed by Abraham-Louis Breguet. Breguet was, in fact, the first to find a reliable technical solution when he developed the oscillating weight. The sapphire-crystal caseback of the new model reveals the ingenious component: in rose or white gold, depending on the model, and hand-engraved on a rose engine. And thanks to the talents of the artisans of the House of Breguet, experts in anglage, circular graining and the cotes de Geneva, the caliber has been entirely decorated.
The watch movement fits into a delicate case with fluted sides in typical Breguet style. The crown – capped with a blue cabochon-cut sapphire or a ruby – is also fluted to ensure a better grip, while the leather bracelet is secured by lugs, welded for strength and curved for the wearer’s comfort, resulting in a timeless timepiece for the modern woman.
With its blend of tradition with contemporary craftsmanship and clean lines, whilst embodying Breguet’s world-renowned style, an elegant, feminine simplicity comes to the fore. An inimitable hallmark, as French author Henry Murger observed in his 1848 book, Les Scènes de la Vie de Bohème: “Rodolphe found Mademoiselle Laure at the trysting place. Good, said he, for punctuality she is a feminine Breguet.”
