Abraham-Louis Breguet is one of the most prolific watchmakers of all-time. Even though he was born in Neuchâtel, Switzerland in 1747, he lived in Paris, France for much of his life, which is also where he died in 1823.
Breguet invented the perpetual winding rotor, the tourbillon, and many other horological innovations – at a time when CNC machines did not exist – and these inventions are still widely in use to this day.
From Marie Antoinette to Napolean Breguet to Louis XIV, Abraham-Louis Breguet was the watchmaker to nobility. And once you see many of the key points of interest where Breguet left his mark, it becomes easier to understand the impact that he made on horology – and the incredible legacy he left behind.
Please enjoy the 70 captioned images we created during a week-long trip from France to Switzerland dedicated to Breguet.
Breguet Marine ChronometerPalace of VersaillesVintage rose engine lathe used to perform guilloche-work on dials, cases, and other watch componentsLeonardo da Vinci’s Mona Lisa on display at the Louvre, which also houses multiple Breguet timepiecesA view of the Vallée de Joux from inside Breguet’s L’Orient manufacture (formerly Lemania)Viewing Paris from Eiffel TowerEiffel Tower at NightOne-of-a-kind Marie Antoinette Number 1160 pocket watch (the only recreation of the original)The caseback of the one-of-a-kind Marie Antoinette Number 1160 pocket watch (the only recreation of the original)Original ledger showing the purchase of the Marie-Antoinette pocket watchA peek inside the safe at the Breguet Museum of ParisEmmanuel Breguet, a direct descendent of Abraham-Louis Breguet, who is the Breguet Museum of Paris curator, speaking with a journalist from Worth magazineView of Eiffel Tower at sunsetThe ceiling at Napoleon’s tombBeautiful scene in Zurich, steps from the Breguet boutiqueBust of Abraham-Louis Breguet at the Breguet Museum of ParisCentre seconds watch, T.U. type, Marine Nationale Aéronautique Navale 0124A, 50 mm chromium plated case, 24-hours black dial, straight-line lever escapement. Sold on June 17, 1958, to the “Service Hydrographique de la Marine” (ref. 1775ALB.3732)Type 20 wristwatch chronograph, first-generation, 38 mm stainless steel case, black dial, 30-minute and 12-hour recorders, fly-back function, lever escapement. Sold on November 23, 1959 to Société Aérotechnique in Algiers (ref. 1775ALB.3495)Type 20 wristwatch chronograph, second-generation, 38 mm polished stainless steel case with black rotating bezel, fly-back function, black dial with 15-minute recorder, lever escapement. Sold in 1973 (ref. 1775ALB.21122)As the watchmaker to Royalty, such as Napoleon Bonaparte, Breguet timepieces shown here are on display at the LouvreLouis Charles Breguet was the great-great-grandson of Abraham-Louis Breguet. He was not associated with Breguet watchmaking but fascinatingly, like his great-great-grandfather, he built machines that were ahead of their time. In 1907 he built a gyroplane, which was a forerunner to the helicopter. And in 1911, he built the plane shownJim Morrison’s grave at the Père Lachaise Cemetery in Paris which is also where Breguet is buriedLake Zurich a short walk from the Beyer Museum and Breguet boutiqueLake Zurich a short walk from the Beyer Museum and Breguet boutiqueBreguet Pendant watch on display at the Breguet Museum of ParisApplying perlage by hand at the Breguet factory in L’Orient, SwitzerlandInside Palace of VersaillesGrounds of the Palace VersaillesPalace of VersaillesPalace of VersaillesPetit Trianon located on the grounds of the Palace of VersaillesPalace of VersaillesPalace of VersaillesLouis XIV statue at the entrance to the Palace of VersaillesPetit Trianon located on the grounds of the Palace of VersaillesInside Palace of VersaillesPalace of Versailles GroundsGrounds of the Palace VersaillesGrounds of the Palace VersaillesA Royal Clock inside the Palace of VersaillesPalace of Versailles GardensThe Pont Alexandre III is a deck arch bridge that crosses the Seine in ParisAvenue des Champs-Élysées“Breguet” is emblazoned on the Eiffel Tower along with engineers, scientists and people important to FranceWalter Uebelhart, head of technical training at Breguet, speaking to our group about engravingLooking on as a master engraver performs guilloche-work on a vintage rose engineThe one-of-a-kind Breguet Marie Antoinette Number 1160 pocket watchBreguet Marine Chronometer seen in Breguet Museum of ParisBreguet No. 1176 Montre garde-temps à tourbillon pocketwatch seen in the Breguet Museum of ParisBreguet No. 1176 Montre garde-temps à tourbillon pocketwatch seen in the Breguet Museum of ParisWalter Uebelhart, head of technical training at Breguet, showing us the early stages of a watch designThis tree was Marie-Antoinette’s favorite oak tree. It was struck down by a storm and Nicolas Hayek Sr. used it to make the box for the reproduction of the Marie-Antoinette watch, Breguet 1160Hall of Mirrors in The Grand Gallery at VersaillesGrounds of the Petit TrianonWalter Uebelhart, head of technical training at Breguet, explaining how thousands of different bits are used to manufacture many of the CNC components used to make a timepieceMontres Breguet donated 7 million Euros to the Chauteau de Versailles foundation to restore Petit Trianon, Marie-Antoinette’s home, including beautiful Royal clocks in almost every roomBreguet donated 7 million Euros to the Chauteau de Versailles foundation to restore Petit Trianon, Marie-Antoinette’s home, including beautiful Royal clocks in almost every roomOur tour guide at Breguet Manufacture in L’Orient, Switzerland wearing his personal BreguetBreguet No. 180 Gold Ring WatchA magnificent clock just off the Qvai De L’Horloge, where Breguet started his first workshopChapels of VersaillesA furnished room in Marie-Antoinette’s Petit Trianon which was revived with Breguet’s supportPrivate theater built for Marie-Antoinette inside the Petit TrianonBeginning of the private tour at the Petit TrianonThe Kitchen inside the Petit TrianonBreguet’s gravesiteBreguet pocket watchClock in the Palace of VersaillesA plaque that recognizes the 7 million Euros donated by Breguet to support the renovation of the Petit Trianon where Abraham-Louis Breguet’s most famous Marie Antoinette livedThe original workshop of Abraham-Louis Breguet on the Qvai De L’Horloge in Paris
