A Guide to Breguet Watches
Breguet is not a brand that screams out for attention, but a prestigious brand that endures
30/09/2025
Breguet is one of the oldest and most illustrious watchmakers in the world. Founded in 1775 by Abraham-Louis Breguet in the aptly named Quai de l'Horloge in Paris, the company celebrates its 250th anniversary in 2025. The legacy of the brand is one of precision, excellence, and understated luxury. Breguet is not a brand that screams out for attention, but a prestigious brand that endures, with a fascinating and rich history.
Breguet Type XX Transatlantique Chronograph
Abraham-Louis Breguet was not only a watchmaker but a visionary inventor whose talent revolutionised horology. Inventions such as the tourbillon (1801), which balanced the effect of gravity on a watch's accuracy, the first self-winding watch (the Perpetuelle in 1780), and the Pare-Chute shock protection, are all developments we take for granted today but represented astonishing innovation over 200 years ago. In addition to this technical excellence, Breguet watches are crafted with exquisite attention to detail, featuring guilloche dials, coin-edge cases, and the instantly recognisable blue pomme hands, known as Breguet hands.
Such innovation and beauty have always attracted an illustrious clientele. A watch commissioned by a lover for Marie-Antoinette in 1783 (The Grand Complication) was completed in 1802, 9 years after the Queen's death. Designed to include all available complications (functions beyond basic timekeeping) of the time, it was famous for its complexity, beauty, and cost.
Other notable wearers include Louis XVI, Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte, King George III, and Winston Churchill. Today, Breguet remains desirable to discerning collectors who appreciate the convergence of history and luxury, as seen in the patronage of King Charles III.
Key collections by Breguet that are enduringly popular include the Classique collection, a fusion of elegance and function that follows the tradition of fine watchmaking.
The Marine collection is inspired by the brand's historic connection as official chronometer provider to the French Navy. Blending a sporty aesthetic with wave-patterned guilloche dials and fluted bezels, the collection offers robust water resistance and sophisticated complications. The Type XX, XXI, and XX11 series appeals to aviation enthusiasts and connoisseurs, featuring aviation-related complications, inspired by Breguet's historical connection to the French Air Force.
Breguet 18ct Gold Type XX Transatlantique Chronograph, No. 3867
The Tradition series is inspired by the brand's watchmaking legacy and showcases the inner components of the watch on the dial side, rendering an art form from exquisite engineering.
The Reine de Naples is a ladies' collection inspired by the bracelet watch made for Caroline Murat, Queen of Naples, in 1810. The watches feature distinctive oval cases and are often embellished with diamonds and other precious stones, creating a glorious fusion of horology and jewellery.
The legacy of the Breguet ensures that there is a keen collectors' market for pre-loved pieces. The team at Dawsons have many years of experience selling Breguet pieces. Recent successes include an 18ct Gold Type XX Chronograph, which sold for £9,500. If you are interested in parting with your pre-loved Breguet piece, Dawsons would be delighted to offer you a complimentary valuation either online or in person. Should your watch be valued at over £1000, zero seller fees will apply, meaning that you will receive 100% of the hammer (sale) price.
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