Breguet Introduces the Reine de Naples 8918

Today, Breguet celebrates International Women’s Day by introducing a new version of the iconic Reine de Naples. This timepiece serves as a true ode to femininity, paying tribute to the women who have made indelible marks on history, who are trendsetters and work for towards the future. Napoleon Bonaparte’s younger sister Caroline Murat was one of these brilliant, inspiring figures. She was a woman of great intelligence and literary culture, a patron of the arts, and a collector. She took a keen interest not only in the world of art, but also in economic, social and educational issues within her kingdom, orchestrating projects such as creating schools for young girls and reforming coral factories.

Caroline Murat was particularly fond of timepieces by Abraham-Louis Breguet and amassed an impressive collection of over 30 timepieces. At a time when ladies wore their watches as sautoir necklaces, she placed a daring and avant- garde order with Abraham-Louis Breguet, for a timepiece that she could wear on her wrist. The year was 1810, and Breguet’s founder began to work on this one-of-a-kind model: the world’s first wristwatch.

From its delivery in 1812 to its repairs in 1849 and 1855, the Breguet archives retrace the history and characteristics of this now vanished timepiece. This slender oblong creation, framing a silver guilloché dial, comprised several complications: a quarter repeater, a moon phase and a thermometer. A wristlet of hair woven with gold thread enabled the timepiece to be worn in this novel position.

The Reine de Naples collection is now embraces a palette of soft colours. After pink, grey and white interpretations, the line welcomes a timepiece in mint green, the colour of hope. A range of hues to suit every wrist.

Beating inside an ovoid case measuring 36.5 x 28.45 mm, the 191-component 537/3 self-winding movement with a 45-hour power reserve is equipped with a balance spring and an in-line Swiss lever escapement made of silicon. This material possesses numerous properties, apart from being resistant to corrosion and wear, it is insensitive to the influence of magnetic fields and improves the accuracy of the timepiece.