Do you remember when you finally got old enough to appreciate the things you saw in museums? Sometime around min teenager-hood I began to appreciate that the reason items were in museums were often that they were pretty nicely done. Problem was that most of that stuff was really old – not something you can buy today. No one still making bronze age battle swords. The message is that museums are mostly about appreciating beautiful things that are no longer around – which is why they are in a museum right? There are of course, exceptions to the rule.
Watch makers are a rare breed of company that can incredibly long histories. Breguet has been around since 1775, and is still around today. Sure the company was “dormant” for a while here and there, but for the most part you can get Breguet watches from all throughout horological history. Breguet is not the only watch company that has been around for a long time, but they are probably the most well funded these days. Especially since they are the “favorite child” of Swatch Group founder (and owner) Nicholas Hayek.
Breguet also has a very famous founder. Abraham Louis Breguet is also sometimes known as the father of modern watch making. You can see age old pocket watches that are deviously reminiscent of watch movements of today. Not sure that by so much of his inventions find homes in timepieces today. Consider the tourbillon for instance – that is all Mr. Breguet’s doing. The Breguet name is also attached to what is arguably the most valuable timepiece in the world, the famous Marie Antoinette Pocket watch. A perfect replica of which (the ref. 1160), made by Breguet after three years of labor, is part of an exhibit now showing at the Louvre museum.
They call it “An Apogee of European Watchmaking.” Frankly, as far as I know, no one during the relevant time period other than Europeans were making watches. Oh well, we can let it slide. Europeans are awfully proud of their achievements, no matter how long ago they occurred. You can easily imagine the contents of the exhibit. We are talking about artifacts, tools, documents, and of course pocket watches and clocks from Breguet’s incredible history as the premiere watch makers for the most privileged people on Earth. Funny thing is that today, Breguet is still around, and is still one of the premiere timepiece brands for the privileged. The brand even still has that exclusive quality to them even though there are most expensive watches out there. As such, even if you can afford it, not just anyone is “allowed” to own a Breguet. You must attain some position in life when Hayek himself (or perhaps his son) comes to your doors and invites you into a showroom for some champagne and an “investment” in your horology destiny. Maybe I am exagerrating, but you what I mean if you’d ever attempted to enter a boutique with watches of this status. The exhibition is going on at the Louvre until the end of September, and if you are in Paris until then you should see it. Check out the link above for more information. Best part of all is that after seeing the exhibit you are so taken with the Breguet brand and want your own, you need only find a Breguet boutique or dealer to satisfy your Swiss watch itch.
via: JamesList
