Does a watch only tell us the time? Certainly not! It tells us a story; it brings back the days gone by and teaches us details about an era lost in time. Breguet’s “Queen of Naples” collection of watches also has a very interesting story backing its inception. The watchmaker Abraham-Louis Breguet was a popular name among France’s royalty and aristocracy. His outstanding timepieces were not only enjoyed by men but women too and very regal ones at that. His celebrity client list included Queen Marie-Antoinette, Empress Josephine, and Caroline Murat, Napoleon Bonaparte’s youngest sister, and the Queen of Naples. Caroline Murat, née Bonaparte, who was Queen Consort of Naples from 1808 to 1815 was especially enthusiastic about Breguet timepieces and owned more than thirty of them, including a unique, oval-shaped wristwatch which included a repeating mechanism as well as a thermometer. This unusual oval form of the Reine de Naples remained a favorite with not just the queen but for years to come. It’s exciting to see the latest Reine de Naples timepiece in an 18k white-gold case, with the manufacture Breguet caliber 537/3. What remains a breathtaking detail and the most notable feature of the watch to date is the dial-in grand feu enamel, which is a first for the Reine de Naples collection. The white vitreous enamel looks regal and enhances the bright and beautiful blue hue of the markings. Shimmer and shine are presented to the watch in the form of brilliant-cut diamonds along its bezel and dial flange.
The highlight of the dial is the presence of a substantial-sized diamond found on the dial at six o’clock, which contains a pear-shaped stone. You will find an off-centered crown at 4 o’clock that is set with a briolette-cut diamond. The case of this beauty is made in 18k white gold and measures 36.50 x 28.54mm with a height of 10.05mm. The Reine de Naples 8918 is presented on a matching powder-blue alligator strap with a triple-folding buckle set with 28 diamonds and can be personalized. The Reine de Naples 8918 watch can be purchased for $37400 s boutiques re-open in the USA.
[Via: Hodinkee]
