Press release
Reine de Naples gold thread bracelet 8908
In 2012, Breguet celebrates the 200th anniversary of the delivery of the first wristwatch made by Abraham-Louis Breguet for Napoleon Bonaparte's sister, Caroline Murat, Queen of Naples. Watch number 2639, ordered by Caroline Murat in 1810, took two years to be completed and delivered by the celebrated watchmaker. Unfortunately the watch disappeared in the course of and remains lost. The company thus had to turn to the archives where Abraham-Louis Breguet recorded all his works when it decided to launch a new collection inspired by the original timepiece. Breguet's watchmakers found the description of an oblong minute-repeating watch with a thermometer on a strap made of hair and gold thread that had to be knotted around the wrist. The manufacturer interpreted this information into the design of the new Reine de Naples collection that it launched in 2002. Designed for women alone, this collection's gentle elegance is derived from the indulgent curves of its egg-shaped case and such mechanical complications as the phases of the moon.
Breguet celebrated this double anniversary by staging an exhibition timelining the amazing adventure of this prestigious timepiece, which was displayed at the Cité du Temps in Geneva from January 16 to February 12, 2012. In addition, the manufacturer produced a new model commemorating the event, the Reine de Naples reference 8908, which has a flexible and elegant bracelet made of gold threads. It is a delight to wear, hugging the wrist to become one with the owner. For the first time in a Breguet watch, the dial is in black Tahiti mother of pearl with central hours and minutes and small seconds at 7 o'clock. The moon goes through its phases at 12 o'clock above the power-reserve indicator. Combining style and skill in the image of the watch ordered by Caroline Murat, its latest descendant is fitted with a calibre 537 DRL1 self-winding movement having an in-line Swiss lever escapement and a flat balance-spring. The balance frequency is 21,600v/h and the power reserve, 40 hours. The bezel is set with 117 brilliant-cut diamonds totalling 0.99 carats while the crown is topped by a cabochon.
SPECIFICATIONS OF THE WATCH
REF. 8908BB/5T/J70 D0DD
Case egg-shaped in 18-carat white gold with fine fluting on the caseband. Bezel set with 117 diamonds totalling approximately 0.99 carats. Sapphire crystal caseback. Dimensions: 28.45 x 36.50 mm. Water resistant to 3 bar
(30 m).
Dial in engine-turned 18-carat silvered gold and black Tahiti mother of pearl. Small seconds at 7 o'clock, moonphases at 12 o'clock with a rhodium moon and power-reserve indicator at 12 o'clock. Individually numbered and signed BREGUET. Hours chapter with Roman numerals. Open-tipped BREGUET hands in polished steel.
Movement self-winding, numbered and signed BREGUET. Cal. 537 DRL1. 8 3/4 lignes. 22 jewels. 40 hours of power reserve. In-line Swiss lever escapement and flat balance-spring. 3 Hz balance frequency. Adjusted in 5 positions.
White-gold thread bracelet.
BREGUET REINE DE NAPLES 8928
The celebration of these two anniversaries also entails expanding the Reine de Naples collection with new versions. Breguet thus introduces a reference with a case in rose gold on a satin strap. This model reveals a mother of pearl dial with minutes and hours hands off-centre at 6 o'clock. The hours chapter is distinguished by Roman numerals following the unique shape of the dial. This Reine de Naples model in rose gold inherits the family traits of the collection, notably the ball attachment at 6 o'clock and the winding crown set with a cabochon at 4 o'clock. The 139 diamonds totalling 1.32 carats set in the bezel, dial edge and attachment, add a touch of elegance. Since all Breguet timepieces are only fitted with mechanical movements, this watch is powered by the self-winding calibre 586 movement with a Swiss in-line lever escapement and a silicon balance-spring. It has a power reserve of 38 hours and a balance frequency of 21,600v/h. To cater for all tastes, Breguet also offers versions with dials of silvered gold paved in diamonds with mother-of-pearl chapter rings and Arabic numerals, as well as versions with rose gold bracelets.
SPECIFICATIONS OF THE WATCH
REF. 8928BR/51/844 DD0D
Case egg-shaped in 18-carat rose gold with fine fluting on the caseband. Bezel, dial flange and ball attachment set with 139 diamonds totalling approximately 1.32 carats. Crown set with a briolette diamond. Sapphire-crystal caseback. Dimensions: 33 x 24.95 mm. Water resistant to 3 bar (30 m).
Dial in natural mother of pearl. Individually numbered and signed BREGUET. Hours chapter with Roman numerals. Open-tipped BREGUET hands in polished steel.
Movement self-winding, numbered and signed BREGUET. Cal. 586. 6 3/4 lignes. 29 jewels. 38 hours of power reserve. In-line Swiss lever escapement and flat silicon balance-spring. 3 Hz balance frequency. Adjusted in 5 positions.
Satin strap.
Also available on a rose gold bracelet: reference 8928BR/51/J20 DD00
Also available with a diamond-set dial and satin strap: reference 8928BR/8D/844 DD0D
Also available with a diamond-set dial and rose gold bracelet: reference 8928BR/8D/J20 DD00
BREGUET REINE DE NAPLES CHARLESTONE BRACELET 8928
The Reine de Naples collection finally welcomes a new reference distinguished by its Charlestone-style bracelet. This unprecedented system, alternating links of white and yellow gold, sets off the elegance of the case.
SPECIFICATIONS OF THE WATCH
REF. 8928BB/51/J60 DD0D
Case egg-shaped in 18-carat white gold with fine fluting on the caseband. Bezel, dial flange and ball attachment set with 139 diamonds totalling approximately 1.32 carats. Crown set with a briolette diamond. Sapphire crystal caseback. Dimensions: 33 x 24.95 mm. Water resistant to 3 bar (30 m).
Dial in natural mother of pearl. Individually numbered and signed BREGUET. Hours chapter with Roman numerals. Open-tipped BREGUET hands in polished steel.
Movement self-winding, numbered and signed BREGUET. Cal. 586. 6 3/4 lignes. 29 jewels. 38 hours of power reserve. In-line Swiss lever escapement and flat silicon balance-spring. 3 Hz balance frequency. Adjusted in 5 positions.
Gold Charlestone bracelet.
Also available with case and bracelet in yellow gold: reference 8928BA/51/J60 DD0D
