A.-L. Breguet. How watchmaking conquered the world

Pocket watch by "Breguet"
Before 1806 (viewpoint 1). Gold, non-precious metal, glass; stamp, guilloche. Sold to Duc de Praslin on February 7, 1807, repurchased and resold to Mr. Belmas, bishop of Cambrai, on November 10, 1819, for 4,000 francs. Delivered to the Armoury Chamber in 1921.
Pocket watch by "Breguet"
Before 1795 (viewpoint 1). Gold, non-precious metal, glass; stamp, enamel. Sold to Mr. Gay of Hamburg on February 21, 1795, for 3,120 francs. Delivered to the Armoury Chamber from the museum of former Stroganov school in 1923.
Pocket watch by "Breguet"
Before 1795 (viewpoint 2).
Pocket watch by "Breguet"
Before 1795 (viewpoint 3).
Pocket watch by "Breguet"
Before 1829 (viewpoint 1). Gold, silver, non-precious metal, glass; stamp, guilloche. Sold to count Panin on November 17, 1829, for 4,000 francs. Bought back and sold to Baron Schickler on August 22, 1835, for 4,000 francs. Delivered to the Armoury Chamber from the State depository of valuables in 1926.
Pocket watch by "Breguet"
Before 1829 (viewpoint 2).
Pocket watch by "Breguet"
Before 1829 (viewpoint 3).
Pocket watch by "Breguet"
Before 1806 (viewpoint 2).
Pocket watch by "Breguet"
Before 1806 (viewpoint 3).
Pocket watch by "Breguet"
Before 1806 (viewpoint 4).

June, 10, 2011 - September, 19, 2011

Switzerland, Château de Prangins of the Swiss National Museum

Organized by:: the Swiss National Museum

Pocket watch by "Breguet" The exhibition, being a continuation of the cultural project of 2009 carried out in the Louvre museum, brings together over 170 remarkable timepieces from various renowned European collections. It is intended to present a retrospective of the work of Abraham-Louis Breguet as well as the beauty and refinement of the art of watchmaking.

The display comprises unique artworks by the famous Breguet firm, including watches, clocks and measuring instruments, portraits, archival documents and records, which reveal Breguet's outstanding achievements. Each presented item is characterized by technical mastery, functional simplicity, and flawless craftsmanship.

The Breguet manufactory was founded by Abraham-Louis Breguet in Paris in 1775. Born in 1747 in the city of Neuchatel, Switzerland, he moved to Paris to study profoundly the art of watchmaking and to become the inventor of new escapement methods and watch design hereafter. His career started with a series of breakthroughs: the development of successful self-winding perpetuelle watches, the introduction of the gongs for repeating watches and the first shock-protection for balance pivots. Each watch from his workshops demonstrated the latest horological improvements in an original movement, mostly fitted with lever or ruby-cylinder escapements that he perfected.

Watches by Breguet are easily recognized for their excellent design, coin-edge and flat watchcases, made of gold and silver, guilloche dials, "pomme" or "lune" hands combined with elegant numerals. Breguet production was highly appreciated by King Louis XVI, Queen Marie-Antoinette as well as Russian noblemen. The list of the Breguet's distinguished patrons included Emperor Alexander I of Russia and Napoleon Bonaparte.

The Kremlin Museums introduce unique timepieces by Breguet - three pocket watches, of which two are regarded as some of the most technically-accomplished. All the exhibits illustrate an excellent workmanship which has been characteristic of the House of Breguet for over two centuries. The display explores variety of watch-making technologies and methods of watch decoration, developed by craftsmen of the world-known Breguet firm.

To learn more about the exhibition please follow the link.