Breguet | The legendary watch commissioned for Queen Marie Antoinette
Breguet
The Legendary Watch Commissioned for Queen Marie Antoinette
Breguet possesses a watch that is truly legendary. It is a pocket watch said to have been commissioned for Queen Marie Antoinette by the master watchmaker Abraham-Louis Breguet. However, this exceptionally complex timepiece carries a poignant tale: neither the Queen nor Breguet himself lived to see its completion.
With the directive to create "the finest watch, unconstrained by time or cost, embodying the pinnacle of all contemporary watchmaking techniques," the ultra-complex "No. 160" was finally completed 44 years later. This pocket watch, known as the "Marie Antoinette," passed through the hands of many collectors before being donated to the L.A. Mayer Museum for Islamic Art in Jerusalem, along with 40 other items from the Lord Salomon's collection. But then, another incident occurred. In 1983, these collections, including "No. 160," were stolen.
The Project to Create a Second "No. 160", Completed in 2007
Breguet then initiated a project to create a second iteration of this masterpiece. To faithfully recreate the missing "No. 160," Breguet's museum meticulously studied original drawings, and through collaboration with cultural institutions like the Paris National Museum of Arts and Crafts, researched the watchmaking techniques and design principles of the era, laying the groundwork for its production. The result was the birth of "No. 1160," the second "No. 160," in 2007.
Remarkably, the original "No. 160" was also discovered in Jerusalem in the same year. This, too, is a tale of a most unusual fate.
The second "Marie Antoinette," "No. 1160," with its fascinating backstory, will visit Japan this May. The exquisite precision of "No. 1160's" intricate mechanism is a sight not to be missed. Those who behold it will undoubtedly be captivated by the history embedded within the timepiece. This is a rare opportunity to encounter a precious watch steeped in a remarkable origin story and a series of extraordinary events.
Queen Marie Antoinette.
An officer devoted to her
commissioned Breguet to create a watch with the finest craftsmanship,
but she passed away before seeing its completion (completed in 1783).
before she could witness its completion.
The "Homage to Marie Antoinette" Exhibition
Dates: Saturday, May 16, 2009 – Sunday, May 31, 2009
Venue: Cité du Temps Ginza
7-9-18 Ginza, Chuo-ku, Tokyo 104-8188
14th Floor, Nicolas G. Hayek Center
Opening Hours: 11:00 – 20:00 (Sundays until 19:00)
Closed: Saturday, May 23
Admission: Free