Queen Marie Antoinette was true enthusiast of Breguet watches. She bought not a few Breguet watchesincluding one fitted with an Breguet in-house automatic movement. In 1783, one of the Queen’s admirer ordered an ultra-luxury pocket watch as a special gift for her. According to the order agreement, all compenents shoule made in yellow gold (if possible) and the watch shall be given various complex functions (if possible). And nothing was impossible. Without any cost or time limits, Breguet watch-making technology was shown as much as possible.
However, the queen had never enjoyed this pocket watch since it was not completed until 1827, 34 years after the queen passed away and 4 years after the founder of Breguet died. It took 44years to finish. This Breguet N°160 pocket watch was named “Marie-Antoinette”. It had been a myth since 1783. Its high complexity, origin and legendary story had been lingering in hearts of watch-makers and collectors for more than 200 years. The fact that it was stolen from Israel Museum and disappeared for several decades wrote a new mysterious page for it legend.
In 2005, Nicolas Hayek set himself a goal to completely copy this pocket watch. When he heard the Queen’s loved oak tree was falling down, he decided to make a watch box out of the tree to give it new life. Versailles pounced on his suggestion and gave him the oak wood as thanks for Breguet dedicated work on repairing Marie Antoinette’s former residence. When then reproduced work was finished in 2007, the original piece that disappeared in 1983 was found back. The Legend continues. However, Breguet still could not verify the pocket watch .
The documents and original design drawings from Breguet Museum and other high culture organizations become the only document source for the reproducing work. Through studying the vintage pocket watches of the time(the famous Duc de Praslin pocket watch ),Many elements about the watch models and watch-making technology of the year were discovered. The study not only gave new life to those disappearing craftsmanship but also made it possible to faithfully reproduce the origianal design.
It was a great venture for Breguet to reproduce a vintage watch of various complex functions just based on documents. This project reflected Breguet watch maker’s superb courage and talents. They had each function and decorative character through analyzed. Take the watch shape for example: the 63:mm yellow gold case was crafted from a special alloy of high copper content to recreate the times color of the year. The dial and the case back were fitted with mineral crystal to display the luxury movement and the exquisite decorative craftsmanship. The study further recreated another complex function-jumping hour.
As an automatic pocket with hour, minute and second repeaters, new Marie-Antoinette has all characters of a work of art.The perpetual calender date, day and month are displayed at 2, 6 and 8 respectively. The time difference display at 10 tells the difference between sun time and average time; the lone independent second hand display the jumping hour at the central. The small seconds subdial is located at 6 o’clock.. The 48-hour power reserve indicator at 10:30 echoes with the bimetallic thermometer at 1:30;
The automatic perpétuel movement are composed of 923 fine brushed and polished components. From the main plate, bridge, gear chain to the date display and springs are made form brushed rose gold. The screws adopts polished blued steel. Friction points, eyelets and bearings are fitted with sapphires, Every detail is hand brushed or polished. This marvelous mechanism has also incorporated with a set of self-lifting escapement, a golden spiral balance and hair spring system. The double anti-shock mechanism protects the oscillating bar and winding hammer from shocks and hits,
The masterpiece made for the Queen lays quietly in a precious box that composed of 3500 wooden pieces of the oak tree form Versailles. 1000+ wooden pieces depict the scene that Queen Marie Antoinette holds a rose-inspired by the famous queen portrait. The exterior of the box faithfully reproduce the luxury floor pattern in Petit Trianon.
Mr. Breguet aimed to make Marie-Antoinette pocket watch the queen of the 18th watch-making industry. More than 200 years later, Breguet reproduced the legend, which will be written on the 21st watch-making history. The new Marie-Antoinette pocket watch, like the original, is a a priceless treasure.
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