====== Breguet ======
{{wst>menue|Breguet}}

{{wst>image_cr|Breguet|Power Reserve Moon Phase}}

**Breguet** is a Swiss watch [[manufacture]], currently part of the [[Swatch Group]]'s Prestige and Luxury division.

===== Short survey =====
The name of this famous luxury watch manufacturer comes from [[Abraham-Louis Breguet]], who is considered the foremost watchmaker and inventor in the history of the watch. The appearance of the watches still has the basic features of the models made by Abraham-Louis Breguet classic, often [[guilloché]] dial with Roman numerals, [[Breguet hand]]s and [[cannellated]] case in solid [[gold]]. The brand Breguet is one of the undisputed top brands in the highest-priced segment of the watch market.

===== The beginnings =====
[[Abraham-Louis Breguet]] founded a watch workshop in Paris in [[1775]]. Initially the focus was on the [[finishing]] of foreign [[ebauche movement]]s, but soon followed the production of [[pocket watch]]es with his own movement, oriented at [[Lépine]]. In [[1798]] [[Abraham-Louis Breguet|Breguet]] presented his free [[escapement]] with "constant pressure" at a national exhibition. From this time his success could not be stopped any more. Even Tsar Alexander, during a visit to Paris, used the opportunity to visit the studio of the great maître.

In [[1808]] Breguet's son [[Breguet, Louis|Louis]] entered the firm as a partner and continued business after Breguet's death. From then on the [[manufacture]] was called "Breguet et fils".

===== Further history =====
After the death of its founder in [[1823]] the [[manufacture]], under the guidance of his nephew, Louis-Antoine, last direct descendant of the Breguet family, adapts the name "Breguet Neveu & Cie". He begins a collaboration with [[Brown, Edward|Edward Brown]], an Englishman, who becomes the sole owner of the [[manufacture]] in [[1870]]. From generation to generation the manufacture under the Browns often relocated their headquarters.

[[1970]] the company is acquired by the two Parisian jewelers Jacques and Pierre Chaumet, which again want to manufacture watches in the spirit the founder. After they go bankrupt, Breguet in [[1987]] comes into the possession of the firm [[Investcorp]]. The watch movements are now supplied by the [[Nouvelle Lemania]].

On September 14, [[1999]] Breguet together with the [[Nouvelle Lemania]] is taken over by the [[Swatch Group]]. Today the watch production is performed in [[L'Abbaye]] in the [[Vallée de Joux]] (canton of [[Neuchatel]]).

Breguet produced "around 30,000 watches" in 2013 according to company President, Marc Hayek.

===== Literature =====
  *[[Das ZEITGEFÜHL-Uhrenbuch]]; Author [[Gerd-Lothar Reschke]]; ISBN 3-938607-61-0

===== Address =====
Montres Breguet SA\\ CH-1344 L'Abbaye

Tel. 021 / 841 90 90\\ Fax 021 / 841 90 84

===== Weblinks =====
  * [[http://www.breguet.com/|Breguet (official site)]]
  * [[http://www.wthejournal.com/en/news/view/marc-hayek-cautious-but-confident|Marc Hayek, cautious but confident]]


{{tag>Watch_brands Watch_brands_Switzerland Manufactures Swatch_Group L'Abbaye L'Orient Vallée_de_Joux Watch_brands_France Investcorp Luxury_watch_brands}}