A watch collection of royal distinction, Breguet’s Reine de Naples is named in tribute to Caroline Murat, the youngest sister of Napoleon Bonaparte and the politically minded queen consort of Naples from 1808 to 1815, during which she made ambitious efforts to develop the local economy and support its industries and manufacturers. Being an ardent admirer and collector of watches crafted by Abraham-Louis Brequet, she ordered a slender oblong wristwatch from the watchmaker in 1810, at a time when women did not typically wear watches and those who did would wear them as sautoirs or suspended from decorative belt hooks.

The Reine de Naples collection serves as a creative reimagination of that consequential wristwatch and it comprises a vast range of aesthetic interpretations of the elegant oval-shaped case: dressed in a elegant palette of pastels such as pink grey: conceived as ornate jewellery, with strands of Akoya pearls or fine yellow-gold chains for bracelets: or set with a generous splash of diamonds on the dial and case.

Exuding a decidedly feminine air, the signature silhouette of Breguet frequently introduces novelties to commemorate special occasions, such as Valentine’s Day limited editions, which are distinguished by red leather straps, rubies and red lacquer and varnish accents. Other updated reimaginings include a light mint green version of the Reine de Naples that the brand launched to celebrate International Women’s Day, in a fitting colour for the start of spring.

The Reine de Naples 8918 pairs a mint-green alligator leather strap and exaggerated Breguet numerals with a white mother-of-pearl dial, an offset chapter ring snow-set with diamonds, Breguet open-tipped hour and minute hands, a black minutes track, a single pear-shaped diamond nestled at 6 o’clock, 117 diamonds lining the bezel and inner flange and a briolette-cut diamond on the crown—an understated expression of beauty, creativity and technical prowess.

Within the 36.5mm by 28.45mm white-gold case lies the diminutive 19.4mm by 3.7mm slef-winding movement 537/3, made up of 191 components and providing 45 hours of power reserve, featuring fine Côtes de Genève decoration and chamfering on the movement.

This story was first seen as part of the WOW #78 Vision 2025 Issue

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