Breguet Enlivens The Face Of The Reine De Naples With A New Invention: Eternal Love

With delicacy and subtlety, and as Valentine's Day approaches, Breguet enlivens the face of the Reine de Naples with a new invention: a hand in the shape of a changing heart.

Its curves expand or contract, as if by magic and very gently, as it makes its way around the elongated oval dial. Rose gold and diamonds add to the radiance of this sleek creation, with a hint of vermilion. This exclusive Coeur, or Heart edition, limited to 28 numbered pieces and accompanied by a matching clutch as its case, is reserved for a selection of Breguet boutiques.

The first wristwatch ever made, the model no. 2639 was a treasure trove of ingenuity right from its origins in 1810. Breguet was inspired by this innovative watch and by the client, Caroline Murat, Queen of Naples, who commissioned it, for its iconic contemporary collection.

Today, for its new creation dedicated to women and to love, the House of Breguet has designed a new system protected by several patents. The magic of an innovative mechanism changes the heart shape of the minute hand – off-center at 6 o’clock – depending on its position on the oval dial. Breguet, which has always developed special watches dedicated to women, is thus faithful to its history and its practice. For this new creation, its curves stretch as the hand moves across the top half of the dial, and become more rounded at the bottom. A real heart that beats… A pared-down dial highlights the delicate elegance and great romanticism of this piece. Touches of vermilion red add to the intensity of the lines of the hours chapter, the leather strap, and the crown, which is adorned with a ruby. This luxurious and exclusive composition is brought to perfection with rose gold and diamonds.

This model, reserved for brand boutiques, is presented in an envelope clutch bag finished in grained calfskin leather and dyed vermilion red to match the strap of the Reine de Naples Coeur.

Celebrating Delicacy and Romance

For the face of this new Reine de Naples, Breguet has opted for understated elegance. The heart-shaped minute hand moves over a sapphire-crystal dial, lacquered in white for a very soft and subtle translucent effect. Its tip, marked by a subtle red heart, indicates the minutes on the hours chapter, punctuated by tiny hearts every five minutes. For better readability, something dear to Breguet, the quarter numerals are distinguished by their size and their outline, lacquered with vermilion. The hour, indicated by a drop of purple lacquer, appears in the center through a window. The rose gold of the dial flange and bezel is set with 128 diamonds. The setting of the folding buckle, also in gold, echoes the brilliance of the case, amounting to a total of approximately 0.94 carats.

The Magic of a Vibrant Heart, an ode to love

The latest invention of the House of Breguet is a minute hand composed of two independent arms, capable of twisting thanks to an ingenious set of gears to create a heart that is extended at 12 o’clock and more rounded at 6 o’clock. Equipped with an oval-shaped cam – mirroring the curves so characteristic of the Reine de Naples – the mechanism allows each of these arms to move at different speeds. This innovation, created exclusively for the Reine de Naples, is protected by four patents. The gears of this complication, like all the components of the caliber, are all carefully hand-finished in the Breguet tradition – whether visible or invisible to the eye. The sapphire-crystal caseback of the rose gold case reveals the movement of the caliber, the 78A0. On the gold rim, the individual number of the watch is engraved, recorded in the archives of the House of Breguet, which have been maintained since the end of the eighteenth century.

With the Reine de Naples Coeur, Breguet conjures up the magic of love, thanks to an innovative hand that traces a heart of ever-changing shape. The delicate and unexpected combination of technique and romanticism.

The Watch of a Queen

During her reign over Naples, Caroline Murat, Napoléon Bonaparte’s younger sister, was a great supporter of the arts and would acquire over 30 Breguet watches and clocks. In 1810, the watchmaker established at Quai de l’Horloge in Paris began an unprecedented creation for the Queen of Naples: a watch designed to be worn on the wrist. It was the first wristwatch designed especially for this purpose. From its delivery in 1812 to repairs in 1849 and 1855, the Breguet archives have kept track of the history and characteristics of this watch, whose whereabouts today are unknown. The oblong-shaped creation with an engine-turned silver dial was very delicate and included several complications: a repeater, a moon-phase indicator, and also a thermometer. Finally, it had a wristlet of hair and gold thread that allowed it to be worn on the wrist.

BREGUET REINE DE NAPLES COEUR 9825 SPECIFICATIONS OF THE WATCH

REF. 9825BR/S8/964 D00D

Oval case in 18-karat rose gold with delicately fluted caseband. Bezel and dial flange set with 128 diamonds weighing approximately 0.77 carats. Crown set with a cabochon-cut ruby (approx. 0.25 carats). Sapphire-crystal caseback. Dimensions 36.5 × 28.45 millimeters. Thickness 10.96 millimeters. Water-resistant to 3 bar (30 meters).

Sapphire-crystal dial lacquered in white with Breguet Arabic numerals. Individually numbered and signed Breguet. Indication of the hour in a window and of the minute by a heart-shaped hand of variable length.

Mechanical self-winding movement. Caliber 78A0. 10 ¾ × 13 ½ lignes. 33 jewels. 40-hour power reserve. 252 components. In-line Swiss lever escapement, silicon escape wheel and flat balance spring. Frequency 3.5 hertz. Breguet balance wheel.

Red alligator leather strap with a triple folding buckle set with 28 diamonds weighing approximately 0.17 carats.

Limited edition of 28 timepieces, numbered from 1/28 to 28/28, accompanied by a clutch serving as a case and crafted in red grained calfskin.