Introducing: The Breguet Reine De Naples 8918 In Grand Feu Enamel

May 05, 2020

The Breguet "Queen of Naples" collection of watches was born from a connection between a client and a watchmaker. The watchmaker was Abraham Louis Breguet, and the client was Caroline Murat, ne Bonaparte, who was Queen Consort Of Naples from 1808 to 1815. Caroline Murat was an enthusiastic collector of Breguet timepieces and during her lifetime would own more than thirty of them, including a unique, oval-shaped wristwatch which included a repeating mechanism as well as a thermometer. That watch was the basis for the introduction of the Breguet Reine de Naples collection in 2002, and since then, various models have been created in a plethora of shapes and designs, all of which remain grounded in the unusual oval form of the original. Today, Breguet has released the latest Reine de Naples timepiece in an 18k white-gold case, with the manufacture Breguet caliber ?537/3 and, most notably, a very elegantly executed dial in grand feu enamel, which is a first for the Reine de Naples collection. The bezel, as well as the dial flange (rehaut), are set with 117 diamonds, and the crown is set with a 0.26-carat briolette-cut diamond as well. Initial Thoughts The Queen Of Naples watch is very solidly grounded in traditional notions of what constitutes a ladies' watch and what constitutes an expression of femininity in general, which is something that can be seen, nowadays, as slightly reactionary. However, I think there is certainly still room for such a notion in watchmaking. For all that, it is also true that gendering a watch in a way that restricts anyone from wearing it seems inadvisable today more than ever. That said, I have always found the Reine de Naples an extremely successful example of the genre, especially inasmuch as it has assumed its identity as a traditional, elegant ladies' dress watch from the outset (it is manifestly not an example of ?"shrinking and pinking" a stereotypical men's watch). Enameling is very difficult to evaluate in photographs. I've had it happen on more than one occasion that an enamel-dial watch which seemed promising in press images turned out to be very disappointing qualitatively in person, but I do not get the impression that this will be the case with the 8918. The elongated downward strokes on the ones digits are especially entrancing C slim, sinuous, and with a beautiful and beautifully controlled curve along their lengths. It's a watch which, like all the most successful Reine de Naples watches, radiates an easy elegance and self-confident sense of style that's the very definition of regal. Once we can all get back to going to a celebratory gala event once in a while C something that will make us all grateful in a way we haven't been in a while for an honest-to-Betsy dress code C this would be a delightful watch to see and even more delightful to wear.? The Basics Brand: BreguetModel: Reine de Naples, Grand Feu EnamelReference Number: 8918BB/28/964 D00D?Dimensions: 36.5mm 28.45mm Thickness: 10.5mmCase Material: White goldDial Color: Grand feu handpainted enamelWater Resistance: 30 metersStrap/Bracelet: ?Blue alligator leather, triple folding buckle with 28 diamonds, total weight approximately 0.17 carats.? The Movement Caliber: Breguet in-house caliber 553/7Functions: Hours and minutesDiameter: 8 3/4 ?Power Reserve: 45 hoursWinding: Automatic and manualFrequency: 3.5 HzJewels: 26Additional Details: Silicon balance spring, silicon in-line lever escapement; adjusted in 6 positions Pricing & Availability Price: $37,400Availability: As boutiques re-open in the USALimited Edition: No, regular but limited productionSee more at Breuget.com.