Haute Time Visits Breguet in London

By Arthur Touchot June 6, 2014

Breguet celebrated the grand reopening of its London boutique this week. Originally opened in 2002, on New Bond Street, it has undergone a dramatic expansion and modernization over the past 8 months. Haute Time was invited to get an exclusive look at the boutique and at some of the watches it houses. Ready to go shopping?

The new boutique, located in the heart of Mayfair on the iconic Bond Street, will be a total of 190 square meters on four floors.

Each floor can be accessed via the glass lift or the stairway with grey granite walls, ans visitors will be able to discover not only the showroom but a virtual room screening interactive films on the theme of watchmaking and the Breguet workshops in Vallée de Joux. The film features artisans chamfering, polishing and engraving some of the most unique watches made by Breguet.

The boutique is dominated by warm brown colors and leather fittings, and houses the Maison’s most splendid creations. Pearly glass walls are a beautiful and subtle hint to the arabesque decorations of “Clous de Paris” dials.

The ellipses on the ceiling pay tribute to the oval shape of the “Reine de Naples”, the first wristwatch ordered from Abraham-Louis Breguet by Caroline Murat, Queen of Naples, in 1810, which now lends its name to Breguet’s leading women’s collection. In fact, the boutique holds an exclusive Queen of Naples model (see below for details).

The third floor VIP lounge houses a Breguet library, an open fireplace, with superb views along Bond Street, home of the world’s most prestigious names in luxury. Laid out in 1686 it was named after local businessman Sir Thomas Bond, a close friend of King Charles II.

Here are some of the beautiful creations that are available in London, including a boutique exclusive in the ladies’ collection.

Classique «Grande Complication » Double Tourbillon

The Classique « Grande Complication » wristwatch in 950 platinum with baguette-cut diamonds, also known as reference 5349PT/11/9ZU DDOD features a hand-wound movement. The hour hand is an extension of the bridge supporting the two tourbillon carriages. The back of the movement bears a hand-engraved drawing representing the solar system, inspired by the 60-second rotation of the tourbillons on themselves and their rotation in tandem around a center axis over a 12-hour period. Available in platinum, in the London boutique, and priced at £619,000.

The « Queen of Naples » London Boutique Exclusive

Breguet is one of the brand’s with the richest history when it comes to ladies’ timepieces. The Reine de Naples collection in particular, celebrates an early bracelet watch Abraham-Louis Breguet created for Bonaparte’s sister Caroline, Queen of Naples. The model found below is a London boutique exclusive. It features a hand-carved dial in 24-carat gold set with 67 brown diamonds. The bezel too is set with 40 diamonds, while the crown features a diamond. It houses a self-winding movement, seen through a sapphire caseback. Exclusive to the Breguet London boutique, and priced at £63,700.