Breguet: Old and New

Thursday at BaselWorld 2008 began with the Breguet presentation.

Nicolas Hayek for the first time demonstrated the watch of Maria Antoinette. But not the watch made by Breguet himself, but the watch the company recreated on the basis of the descriptions and illustrations made by different people in different times.

At its time the watch made for the French queen was the most complicated timepiece in the world: it combined all the complications known at that time. Today this large pocket watch yields in the complications to record-models by Vacheron Constantin or Patek Philippe. But its significance for the watchmaking is exceptional.

Breguet’s craftsmen have done much work: having not a single draft or photo, using separate illustrations and descriptions only, they recreated the watch that is 200 years of age. Besides, as Mr. Hayek says, this Second Maria Antoinette’s Watch excel the original in workmanship.

The stir over the Maria Antoinette’s watch has overshadowed other novelties by Breguet. But they are worth looking at. The most interesting models are the tourbillon in an unusual for Breguet barrel-shaped case and women models, whose dials are made of seashell.

Rolex Follows the Fashion

Rolex decided to give up its classics and follow the fashion trends. Among the novelties presented by Rolex the most interesting are the chronograph Oyster Cosmograph Daytona in the case made of the material on the basis of gold Everose.

But the real sensation is Rolex Oyster Datejust for women with diamonds inlayed dial. Besides the size of the watch is also unusual for Rolex: only 34 mm.

Zodiac by Jaquet Droz

Jaquet Droz has presented very interesting models this year. The most original among them is the steel sporty watch (that is something new for a classic brand) and the set Date Astrale Zodiaque. This set consists of 12 timepieces at whose dials there are diamond zodiac signs.

From the technical point of view the realization of the calendar is very interesting. A diamond indicated the date moving along the side of the dial. These models are very beautiful in daytime but at night they become even more interesting and beautiful: instead of one figure there is a zodiac sign marked with a luminescent material. In the darkness you can see the luminous hands, the zodiac sign and twinkling of the diamonds.

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