In celebration of Valentine’s Day, Breguet pays homage by adorning the iconic Reine de Naples with poetic references, presenting a new timepiece in a limited edition of 28 pieces.
This fresh interpretation from the House of Breguet embraces love with subtle red accents delicately scattered across its white mother-of-pearl dial. The flange boasts 66 hand-set rubies, complemented by a bezel adorned with a myriad of diamonds and a crown featuring a cabochon-cut ruby. Discreet red hearts mark the hours on an offset chapter ring, while the hours and minutes hands trace their passionate path, harmonizing with the alligator leather strap. Additionally, the lug and folding clasp are embellished with hand-set diamonds.
At the core of its 33mm egg-shaped case, the 586/1 self-winding movement resides, consisting of 180 parts with a 38-hour power reserve and a 3 Hz frequency. The calibre is equipped with a silicon balance spring, a material known for its resistance to corrosion, wear, and magnetic field influences, enhancing the timepiece’s precision. Meticulously hand-finished components, following the Breguet tradition, are either visible or concealed, with the sapphire-crystal back revealing a platinum oscillating weight showcasing Côtes de Genève decoration and bevelling on the mechanism.
Dubbed a “Queen’s watch,” this Reine de Naples pays tribute to Caroline Murat, Napoleon Bonaparte’s younger sister and a fervent arts supporter. In the early 19th century, she made a bold request to Abraham-Louis Breguet, ordering a wristwatch at a time when women typically wore watches as necklaces. In response, Breguet began crafting this unique timepiece in 1810, resulting in the world’s first wristwatch, delivered in 1812. Documented in Breguet archives, this historic creation, which underwent repairs in 1849 and 1855, featured an oblong design with a silver guilloché dial and multiple complications, including a minute repeater, moon phase, and thermometer. The timepiece was complemented by a bracelet made of hair intertwined with gold threads, allowing it to be worn on the wrist.
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