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The style of Breguet

The House of Breguet played a fundamental role in the evolution of watchmaking with an impressive number of innovations and inventions.

Also in terms of style Breguet defined a timeless aesthetics that significantly influenced the watchmaking industry and makes each timepiece unmistakably recognizable as a creation of the brand.

Drawing inspiration from the classical rules of proportion and order, the Breguet style is revealed by a number of elements and details that are special to Breguet watches. In this article we describe some of these key elements.


Engine-turned dials

This traditional decoration technique became one of the many distinctive traits of a Breguet timepiece since the very beginning of the history of the brand. Founder Abraham-Louis was the first to introduce guilloché carving for watch dials. Receptive patterns were engraved on the dial plate using a manual lathe. More than merely decorative, these patterns offered the advantage of suppressing the reflection of light on metal dial plates.



Today, Breguet craftsmen still continue to use engine-turning lathes designed and built over a century ago.


With a precision of a tenth of a millimeter, they engrave intricate patterns like clou de Paris hobnailing, pavé de Paris cobbling, sunburst, barleycorn, waves, cross weave, checkerboard, flame and many more. Dexterity and coordination are required: while the left hand slowly rotates the piece to be decorated, with the right hand the guillocheur exerts the proper pressure to engrave it.


Once the dial plate has been meticulously engine-turned by hand, it is silver coated using techniques developed over two centuries ago: powdered silver is delicately brushed on the plate with circular or linear movements, depending on the type of satin-like finish desired.

The same kind of engine-turned guilloché work engraved on gold Breguet dials is also executed on delicate and brittle plates of mother-of-pearl.




Breguet hands

Breguet watches have featured its founder’s celebrated hollow, eccentric “moon” tip watch hands for over two centuries now. Designed around 1783, his slim, sleek hands proved an instant success demonstrated by the fact that the term ‘Breguet hands’ soon entered the vocabulary of watchmaking.

The typical hands adorning a guilloché dial of an early Breguet pocket watch - 1786 

Made of gold or blued steel,  they are simple and easy-to-read and can be found on most Breguet timepieces adding great elegance to a watch. 





Caseband fluting

Most Breguet timepieces, especially their dress watches, are enhanced by a refined decoration on the caseband called fluting, a pattern of fine grooves enhanced with double beading.

The fluted pattern is cold-rolled into the case band then finished by hand on a mechanical workpiece-holder.



Depending on the model the fluting can be slightly restyled like it happens for the  Marine and Type XX - XXI - XXII lines.




Breguet numerals

While Breguet often uses Roman numerals for its guilloché dials, for other models we find graceful Arabic numerals that have become a distinctive trait of the brand.

Designed by Abraham-Louis Breguet himself, these Arabic numerals show the talent of the great watchmaker for combining function with elegance.

The Breguet No. 15 watch  - 1787

Still used on watches with enamel dials, Breguet numerals first appeared before the French Revolution when they shared the dial with tiny stars to mark the minutes and stylised fleur-de-lys at five-minute intervals.




A single number for each watch

Each Breguet watch produced is a special creation that deserves to be identified with a unique number, making it possible to confirm its origin and provenance even after centuries.

Started since the early days of the brand, this tradition is also a proof of the craftsmanship of those who have created it and the attention and care that is spent in its manufacture.

The number is generally positioned just after the logo, in a separate space at 6 o'clock or on the caseback when it is not possible to engrave it on the dial, like for enamel dials or in case of sportier and busier dials.




Lugs

The lugs that Breguet uses for its wristwatches also bear the hallmarks of authentic Breguet styling.

Rather than the usual sprung bars, screw-pins are used to hold the strap between the horns. This solution ensures a better visual result while being more secure.

The distinctive lugs are welded onto the case band both for technical reasons of rigidity and strength and for aesthetic consistency.



The secret signature

Due to their extraordinary success, Breguet timepieces quickly became a target for counterfeiters. In 1795, Abraham-Louis Breguet found a way to make counterfeiting very difficult: his secret signature. 

Etched into the dial, the signature is all but invisible unless the dial is examined in oblique light. Still a token of authenticity, the secret signature has remained a feature of many Breguet dials till our days.



These are only some of the most evident design elements that contribute to define the unique Breguet style. The owners of a Breguet timepiece, while wearing it or exploring it with a loupe, learn to appreciate many other refined details that make a Breguet timepiece so elegant and aesthetically pleasing. breguet.com

Suggested reading:
- The history of Breguet
- Our visit to the Breguet Manufacture

Name

A. Lange & Sohne,137,Accutron,1,AkriviA,10,Alain Silberstein,3,alarm,16,Alpina,14,Andersen Geneve,2,Andersmann,2,Andreas Strehler,5,Angelus,5,annual calendar,43,Anonimo,15,Anthony de Haas,1,Antiquorum,4,Antoine Martin,2,Antoine Preziuso,1,Apple,2,Apple Watch,2,Aquadive,2,Aquastar,1,Armin Strom,76,Arnold and Son,26,Artime,1,Astarwatch,1,Atelier de Chronometrie,1,Ateliers deMonaco,2,Atmos,1,Auctions,91,Audemars Piguet,92,Autodromo,1,automaton,2,BA111OD,1,Ball Watch,1,Bamford,2,Baselword 2022,1,Baselworld,8,BaselWorld 2013,50,BaselWorld 2014,53,Baselworld 2015,69,Baselworld 2016,27,Baselworld 2017,64,Baselworld 2018,75,Baselworld 2019,41,Baselworld 2020,2,Baume,4,Baume & Mercier,11,Baume et Mercier,65,Bell & Ross,39,Bernhard Lederer,4,Bernhard Zwinz,1,bespoke,1,Blancpain,92,blue dial,3,Bonhams,2,Bovet,12,Brands histories,1,Breguet,122,Breitling,71,Bremont,1,Bremont Watch Company,4,Breva,2,bronze,28,Bücherei,1,Bucherer,1,Bulgari,114,Bulova,2,Burberry,1,C3H5N3O9,1,carbon,3,carillon,3,Carl F. Bucherer,4,Carl Suchy,1,Carrera,17,Cartier,46,ceramic,20,Certina,11,Chanel,4,Chaumet,3,chiming hour,13,Chopard,42,Christiaan van der Klaauw,1,Christie's,9,Christophe Claret,5,Christopher Ward,14,chronograph,717,chronometer,38,Chronoswiss,6,Citizen,3,co-axial,1,column-wheel,7,complete calendar,27,complications,88,concept watch,5,Concord,1,constant-force,39,Corum,18,Credor,1,CSEM,1,Cuervo y Sobrinos,1,Cyrus,32,Czapek,8,Dan Niederer,1,Davosa,1,Daytona,7,De Bethune,28,de Grisogono,3,dead seconds,21,Delma,1,detent escapement,4,DeWitt,9,digital display,1,dive watches,56,diving,8,diving watches,377,double regulator,3,Doxa,34,drei,1,dress watches,504,dual time,101,Ebel,2,Eberhard,35,Edouard Koehn,5,Edox,6,El Primero,41,Emile Chouriet,1,Emmanuel Bouchet,1,Emmanuel Breguet,1,enamel dial,12,enamelling,15,Equation of time,9,ETA,1,Eterna,18,exhibitions,1,F.P.Journe,38,Faberge,2,factory tours,3,Favre-Leuba,1,feature article,82,features,118,Felipe Pikullik,2,Ferdinand Berthoud,7,flyback,55,Fondation de la Haute Horlogerie,1,Formex,1,Fortis,9,Franc Vila Founder,1,Franck Muller,7,Frederic Jouvenot,1,Frederique Constant,15,Furlan Marri,1,FVF,1,Gallet,1,Garrick,1,Geneva Watchmaking Grand Prix,8,Georg Jensen,1,George Daniels,4,Gerald Charles,2,Gerald Genta,12,Girard-Perregaux,47,Glashuette,19,Glashuette Original,88,Glashütte,33,Glashütte Original,121,Glycine,4,GMT,126,GoS,1,GoS Watches,1,GPHG,20,GPHG 2020,3,GPHG 2021,3,GPHG 2022,3,GPHG 2023,3,GPHG2019,1,Graham,6,Grand Feu,5,Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Geneve,16,Grand Seiko,33,Grande Complication,28,Grande Sonnerie,8,Greubel Forsey,38,greubelforsey,1,Gronefeld,10,Grönefeld,8,Grossmann,3,guilloché,8,H. Moser and Cie,49,H20 Watch,1,Habring,10,Habring2,11,Hajime Asaoka,2,Hallmark of Geneva,2,Hamilton,37,hands-on,118,Hanhart,15,Harry Winston,11,Hautlence,6,Hermes,26,Heuer,2,high jewellery,2,high-frequency,3,Hublot,59,Hybris Artistica,1,Hydro Mechanical Horologists,7,HYT Watches,16,Icon,1,In pictures,17,independent watchmaker,35,industry news,227,interview,8,Interviews,8,IWC,166,Jacques Bianchi,1,Jaeger-LeCoultre,123,Jaquet Droz,58,Jean-Francois Mojon,1,Jean-Marc Pontroué,1,JeanRichard,3,jumping hours,36,Junghans,11,Kaj Korpela,1,Kari Voutilainen,10,Kenissi,1,Kollokium,1,Korpela,1,Krayon,4,Kudoke,5,Kurono,2,L.Leroy,1,L'Epee 1839,1,Labails,1,Ladies watches,190,Lang & Heyne,4,Lang 1943,1,Lange,48,large date,3,Laurent Ferrier,25,Laureus,2,Le Garde Temps,1,Lederer Watches,4,Leica,3,Lemania,1,Leroy,4,Linde Werdelin,2,Longines,93,Louis Erard,26,Louis Moinet,7,Louis Vuitton,1,luxury steel watch,24,LVMH,10,LVMH 2020,6,M.A.D.Edition,3,M.A.D.Editions,3,Maîtres du Temps,1,Manufacture Contemporaine du Temps,3,Manufacture Royale,3,Marc Lang,1,marine chronometer,2,Marqueterie,1,Maurice de Mauriac,2,Maurice Lacroix,26,MB&F,64,MCT,1,MeisterSinger,90,meteorite,3,metiers d'art,2,Mickey Mouse,2,Mido,59,military watches,14,Minerva,3,Ming,1,Minute Repeater,62,monopusher chronograph,4,Montblanc,57,moon phases,121,Moritz Grossmann,31,Moser,44,Muhle,6,Mühle-Glashütte,5,mystery watches,4,Nautilus,12,New Britain Corp,1,new watches,3587,Nivada,2,Nomos,76,Norqain,31,Ochs und Junior,6,Officine Panerai,103,Omega,190,Only Watch,15,Only Watch 2015,4,Only Watch 2017,2,Only Watch 2019,3,Only Watch 2021,4,Only Watch 2023,10,Oris,42,paillonne,1,Panerai,106,Parmigiani,14,Parmigiani Fleurier,33,Pascal Coyon,1,Patek,56,Patek Philippe,133,Pedrozo & Piriz,1,perpetual calendar,146,Perrelet,11,Petermann Bedat,3,Phenomen,1,Philippe Dufour,1,Phillips,10,Piaget,34,Pierre DeRoche,2,pilot watch,111,Pininfarina,1,Pisa,13,Pisa 1940,1,Pisa Circle,12,Pita,1,planetarium,2,platinum,7,pocket watch,3,pocket watches,2,Poehlmann-Bresan,2,Poincon de Geneve,2,Porsche Design,17,Pre-SIHH 2016: Cartier - Clé de Cartier Automatic Skeleton,1,pulsometer,5,Purnell,1,quartz,9,Rado,19,Ralf Tech,3,Ralph Lauren,2,rattrapante,23,Raul Pages,2,Raymond Weil,4,rectangular watches,16,reddot award,1,regatta,1,regulator,25,remontoire,5,Remy Cools,1,Renaud Tixier,1,Reservoir,2,resonance,21,Ressence,12,retrograde,10,Revelation,1,Reverso,26,review,119,RGM,1,RGM Watch Co.,1,Richard Mille,110,Richemont,4,Richmond,1,Roger Dubuis,11,Roger Smith,1,Roger W. Smith,1,Rolex,68,Romain Gauthier,12,Romain Jerome,1,Royal Oak,39,Rudis Sylva,1,sapphire,4,Schwarz Etienne,1,Seamaster,9,Seiko,41,SevenFriday,24,SIHH,3,SIHH 2012,4,SIHH 2013,25,SIHH 2014,36,SIHH 2015,43,SIHH 2016,44,SIHH 2017,41,SIHH 2018,43,SIHH 2019,53,Simon Brette,2,Singer,6,Singer Reimagined,10,single hand,27,single-hand watches,32,Sinn,16,skeleton,35,smartwatch,9,solar energy,1,Sotheby's,8,Speake Marin,6,Speake-Marin,6,Speedmaster,34,split seconds,22,sport,1,sport watches,930,sportwatches,1,Spring Drive,2,square watches,3,squelette,57,steampunk,1,Steinhart,1,Strehler,1,striking time,16,SuisseMecanica,1,sunrise,2,sunset,2,Swatch,8,Swatch Group,23,Sylvain Pinaud,2,table clocks,4,Tag Heuer,172,tantalum,1,technical insight,3,terra Cielo Mare,1,Theo Auffret,1,Tiffany,17,Tissot,8,titanium,8,top news,395,Torsti Laine,1,tourbillon,361,Trilobe,3,Tudor,35,Tulloch,1,Tutima,3,ultra thin,34,Ulysse Nardin,39,Unimatic,1,Union Glashutte,14,Universal Genève,1,Urban Jurgensen,29,Urwerk,22,Vacheron Constantin,80,Van Cleef & Arpels,7,Vauchier Fleurier,1,Vianney Halter,5,video,1,vintage watches,3,Vulcain,11,wandering hours,1,watches,1,Watches & Wonders,41,Watches & Wonders 2020,19,Watches & Wonders 2021,28,Watches & Wonders 2022,35,Watches & Wonders 2023,38,Watches & Wonders 2024,2,Watches&Wonders,5,WatchesandWonders2022,35,WatchesandWonders2023,39,WatchesandWonders2024,3,Wilhelm Schmid,1,Winnerl,1,worldtime,56,YEMA,4,Zannetti,1,Zeitwerk,2,Zeitwinkel,1,Zenith,110,Zodiac,9,
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Time and Watches | The watch blog: The style of Breguet
The style of Breguet
The style of Breguet. Breguet defined a timeless aesthetics that makes each timepiece unmistakably recognizable as a Breguet creation and that significantly influenced the watchmaking industry. Drawing inspiration from the classical rules of proportion and order, the Breguet style is revealed by a number of details that are special to Breguet watches. Engine-turned dials. Guilloché. Breguet hands. Secret signature. Unique number. Lugs.
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