A watchmaking brand long admired by royalty since the end of the 18th century, Breguet’s timepieces have earned their staying power as a symbol of elegance and technical precision. One of the company’s first keen devotees proved to be Queen Marie-Antoinette, who wore some of the watchmaker’s most beautiful pieces, such as the self-winding models, from the very start of her reign.
To pay tribute to another devotee, in 1810 Breguet began an unprecedented creation for the Queen of Naples, Caroline Murat (the younger sister of Napoleon Bonaparte), producing a watch designed to be worn on the wrist. It was the very first wristwatch designed especially for this purpose. The oblong-shaped creation with an engine-turned silver dial was very delicate and included several complications: a repeater, a moon-phase indicator and also a thermometer, and featured a wristlet of hair and gold thread that allowed it to be worn on the wrist.
Whilst reigns come and go, the infatuation with Breguet’s timepieces endures and today the brand’s signature Reine de Naples, inspired by Caroline Murat, is dawning a new day. With the new Reine de Naples 8918, Breguet highlights, for the very first time, the delicate oval shape of the dial with pure, bright white grand feu enamel, Arabic numerals, steel hands and the signature of the House all in celestial blue shades. The watch’s white-gold case with finely fluted sides houses the self-winding manufacture caliber 537/3, which has a power reserve of 45 hours, while a briolette-cut diamond lends a touch of sparkle to the crown at 4 o’clock. The alligator leather strap continues the blue-sky thinking and is fitted with a folding buckle that is set with 28 diamonds, while 117 diamonds pepper the bezel and dial flange.
To ensure one’s affiliation with Breguet continues, the House of Breguet can record the owner’s name in its archives, the same archives that have been kept since the late 18th century, next to the individual number, engraved on the back of the watch.
A century’s old timepiece inspired by royalty and made contemporary for today’s discerning watch collectors, the Reine de Naples 8918 is a timepiece for arbiters of refinement, elegance and style.