Book in english click here for the french edition of this book. Art and innovation in watchmaking by emmanuel breguet. Authored by emmanuel breguet, the book covers the life and works of founder abraham louisbreguet that has led the established. Abrahamlouis breguet 17471823 was born in neuchatel, switzerland. A new edition of salomons breguet 17471823 book now for. In his lifetime he was considered the leading watchmaker of his day, and he built up a clientele that included many leading public figures and members of the european nobility. Emmanuel breguet is the head of archives and historical collections at montres breguet s. A new edition of salomons breguet 17471823 book now for sale, benefitting the hodinkee fund. Abraham louis breguet was an illustrious watchmaker responsible for a plethora of inventions, including the tourbillon, equation of time, the first wristwatch, the first reliable automatic watches perpetuelles, and the first gong spring for repeaters. Abraham louis breguet 17471823 was the most excellent horologist of his time, and the art of breguet illustrates the form and style of his enormous output of clocks, watches and chronometers. The life and legacy of abraham louis breguet was written by emmanuel breguet, a seventh generation descendant of abraham louis and now curator of the breguet museum. After three years of research and development, reference 3350 was launched in 1990, a 36 mm timepiece containing a oneminute tourbillon that was fully visible in a cutaway at 6 o.
In 1921 he published the seminal volume, breguet 17471823, the first major book on the subject, which included a biography, an analysis of breguets key inventions, listings of major pieces, and a detailed timeline of production, using examples from his own unique collection for illustrations. It was in 1987 that bodet and his watchmakers began to study the breguet tourbillon, which abraham louis breguet had invented in 1795 and patented on june 26, 1801. The life and legacy of abrahamlouis breguet was written by emmanuel breguet, a seventh generation descendant of abrahamlouis and now curator of the breguet museum. Second edition of the book breguet, watchmakers since 1775. Corporate vanity coffee table books are rarely worth attentive study, but abrahamlouis breguet is such a significant figure in watchmaking that. Just a few months before europe first laid eyes on the telephone at the universal exposition in 1878, antoine breguet son of breguet founder abraham louis breguet and. Second edition of the book breguet, watchmakers since. Historian emmanuel breguet during the manila launch of his book breguet watchmakers since 1775. If breguet holds a special place in our cultural heritage, it is because its founder, abrahamlouis breguet 17471823, set the standard by which all fine watchmaking has since been judged. In 2020, breguet adorns the dial of its extrathin selfwinding tourbillon with a touch of deep blue, by using the traditional grand feu enamel technique. Abraham louis breguet invented many of the standard components of todays most prestigious watches, earning the title the father of modern horology. As a trained historian, he published a number of studies on civil and military aviation before devoting himself entirely to the work and life of his ancestor. The art of breguet is the most complete document on the work of abrahamlouis breguet 17471823 by george daniels, himself a master watchmaker in the. Get the best deals on breguet antique pocket watches when you shop the largest online selection at.
The selfwinding watch, the gong spring, the first shockprotection device, and this dazzling exploration of the work of renowned horologist breguet is also a fascinating look at what makes. Breguet was apprenticed in 1762 to a watchmaker at versailles. Abraham louis breguet news newspapers books scholar jstor november 2009. Abrahamlouis breguet was a horologist who made many innovations in the course of a career in watchmaking in france. Today, his heirs at breguet still make each watch as a model of supreme horological art. He spent much of his life in paris, where many of his time pieces were produced. The history of breguet part ii time and watches the.
Best french watches that money can buy by bespoke unit. When there are many free resources available online and when most reference books sell for hundreds of dollars i can imagine its quite a while. The selfwinding watch, the gong spring, the first shockprotection device, and the enameled dial. He designed a new type of hands with hollow, eccentric moon. Since 1999, it has been a subsidiary of the swiss swatch group. One legend states, that breguet introduced his newly invented parachute shock protection during festivities at talleyrands villa. Almost since inception, breguet was providing timepieces for european royalty. The life and legacy of abraham louis breguet will be available in all breguet boutiques worldwide.
One of his books, breguet watchmakers since 1775 the life and legacy of abraham louis breguet 17471823, has just been recently released on its second edition. Corporate vanity coffee table books are rarely worth attentive study, but abraham louis breguet is such a significant figure in watchmaking that. The life and legacy of abrahamlouis breguet 17471823 emmanuel. The technique, developed in the 16th century, was being used about 300 years later to add a flourish to wooden furniture when abraham louis breguet encountered it in london. Abrahamlouis breguet news newspapers books scholar jstor november 2009. The life and legacy of abrahamlouis breguet was written by emmanuel breguet, a seventh generation descendant of abraham louis and now curator of the breguet museum. The selfwinding watch, the gong spring, the first shockprotection device, and the enameled dialall were created by breguet. A new edition of salomons breguet 17471823 book now.
Abrahamlouis breguet invented many of the standard components of today s most prestigious watches. Stayed in switzerland and met abraham louis perrelet. During the 20th century minor improvements like size reduction, the reintroduction of the bracelet creating the wristwatch, its development attributed to abraham louis breguet. The firm of breguet made these carriage clocks between about 1812 and 1830.
First published in 1997, breguet, watchmakers since 1775. Abrahamlouis breguet was a watchmaker born in neuchatel, switzerland in 1747. A oneofakind publication, author emmanuel breguet describes the life and work of his ancestor, the brilliant watchmaker abrahamlouis. There are a limited number of artisans still capable of mastering this ageold process, which was dear to abraham louis breguet, as he appreciated the spotless aspect it conferred on watches. It was abraham louis breguet who in a period when the design of watches was still lingering in its rococo period propelled his art toward the pure, uncluttered aesthetics and taut lines of. Breguet breguet style, the unmistakable signs facebook. Minute repeaterswatch complications that audibly ring out the timeexisted before 1783, but they were heavy. He took refuge in switzerland during the french revolution and, upon his return to france, became a principal. Breguet is a luxury watch, clock and jewelry manufacturer founded by abraham louis breguet in paris, france in 1775. In his teens, he left the family home to first move to versailles and then to paris to pursue his studies as a watchmakers apprentice. A historian by trade and training, breguet has authored various books on his famed ancestor and on watchmaking throughout the years. This is a good history of the business from its beginnings to its take over by investcorp in 1987. At breguet, creating the patterns of time the new york times.
Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. The clock was sold to a colonel cook on 7 october 1822 for the sum of ffr4,800. Abrahamlouis breguet was an illustrious watchmaker responsible for a plethora of inventions, including the tourbillon, equation of time, the. The original was published in 1997 and quickly went. Breguet second edition of the book breguet, watchmakers since. There are several good books out there on abraham louis breguet.
The breguet archives cover over two centuries and include production registers, repair books, certificates of authenticity, letters from clients, technical annotations written by abraham louis breguet and his son and, of course, many rare timepieces that the company keeps acquiring every year. The breguet watch brand was established in the late 18th century in paris by abraham louis breguet himself. Originally published in 1997, this book written by emmanuel breguet describes the life and work of abrahamlouis breguet as well as the company we know. Talleyrand was one of the best customers of abraham louis breguet, buying from him over 30 watches for himself and his influential entourage. The first selfwinding watch is attributed to the brand, as is the invention of the perpetually romantic tourbillon complication.
The new edition of breguet 1747 1823 when was the last time any of you bought a book about watches. Breguet wasnt born until 1747 so did not contribute to the initial horological solution for the longitude problem, but that didnt stop him from playing an important role as the importance of the marine chronometer continued to increase well after it was invented translating higher precision directly into more precise navigation. Perhaps the most sought after personal technology device of the last 200 years, the timepiece, designed by the legendary abraham louis breguet, is the launching point for a thrilling and fluidly woven set of narratives that are, in part, forbidden love story, historical document, and police procedural. It was abraham louis breguet who in a period when the design of watches was still lingering in its rococo period propelled his art toward the pure, uncluttered aesthetics and taut lines of neoclassicism. With the original edition long out of print, the book has just been published in its second edition, and made available by breguet for an affordable price. Examples of every type are illustrated including over 500 elaborate drawings of his many inventions and mechanisms. He is the seventh generation descendant of breguet s founder, abraham louis breguet. The second edition of the book breguet, watchmakers since 1775. Abraham louis breguet was a horologist who made many innovations in the course of a career in watchmaking in france. Breguets perpetual calendar, and tourbillon, and other groundbreaking. Abrahamlouis breguet january 10, 1747 september 17. Headquartered in labbaye, switzerland, breguet is one of the oldest surviving watchmaking brands and a pioneer of numerous watchmaking technologies such as the tourbillon, which was invented by abraham breguet.
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