Life and Legacy
Abraham-Louis Breguet was born in 1747 and worked in the horological arena starting in this teens, moving to Paris in 1762 where he became an apprentice under a watchmaker that also worked with the Royal Court. The brilliant men that mentored him shaped the man he became, providing a foundation for watchmaking that is still firm today. Two hundred years later the brand is located in Switzerland about two hours from where the founder was originally born. That facility houses one of the most advanced watch making facilities, dedicated to hand-craftsmanship, state of the art techniques and the finest quality in the world. The brand has always been committed to producing the most exquisite watches and today the Swatch Group continues to respect that heritage. The legacy of Breguet watches is firm with traditional watchmaking techniques like guilloche hand-operated machine engraving as well they continue to focus on the future of research and development to continue and elevate watch development.
Years Turn to Centuries
Breguet has been inspiring the horological world for two hundred and forty years, and now introducing new versions of some of their most elegant timepieces. The Tradition watch series was not only beauty but showcases the skills the brand is respected for. The legacy of Breguet watches has adorned the most famous wrists from Queens to Hollywood stars as well as the common timepiece lover, each one getting a elegant and quality watch.
Reputation Repetition
The Breguet’s legacy is respected for their innovation in horology, the development of new mechanical movements, the use of materials that help them create. Silicon has been widely used by the brand for mechanical movements in the regulation system. While others might not see the advantage of silicon, Breguet did. This ability to be open minded and creative is what allows the brand to be dynamic in their growth. Being a watchmaker to Louis XVI is a history that provided inspiration. Certainly the founder was not born to a privileged class but because of his professional reputation he was able to step into the worlds of royalty.
During the French Revolution he fled Switzerland fearing for his life, because of his ties to the royal family and other government people. However that didn’t deter the founder or the brand from remaining a top watchmaker. Today the timepieces are displayed at the Louvre, the Chateau Versailles, and so many other landmarks that respect the brand quality. One pocket watch that was ordered for Marie Antoinette was not completed until 40 years later, long after she and Abraham-Louis had died. It is a true legacy of the horological brilliance the brand has created. Today the brand continues to blend the old traditions to the new techniques, and keep reliability and quality number one.
One major example of this dedication is the production of guilloche dials. The machines that were used to craft these dials are no longer made, but the brand acquired as many as they could while also developing their own machines. Today the brand has the world’s largest guilloche-engraving department but also the largest department for other traditional hand-applied horological techniques. The legacy of Breguet watches spans collections of ladies, men’s, dress, sports, aviator and other watch lines. Ranging in price and cutting-edge materials each timepiece is a true work of art. The brand is well oiled and wound up for the future, and the time for the brand continues to march on.
