The Lunar New Year of the Rabbit is upon us, and the celebration has become an occasion for some serious indulgence and luxury gifting. Breguet just launched one of their iconic timepieces, which is accented with the auspicious colour red.
The Reine de Naples is Breguet’s hallmark watch for females, inspired by a long-lost timepiece from 1812 that may have been the first wristwatch created. The model is available in a variety of models, but the most recent is exceptionally stark but no less graceful: the Reine de Naples 8918 in black with a mother-of-pearl dial.
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This new model, like the rest of the collection, has its origins in the nineteenth century. Wristwatches were trendy accessories at the time, having been invented as jewelry that also happened to tell the time. One of the oldest known versions was an egg-shaped bracelet watch given to Caroline Bonaparte, Napoleon’s younger sister, and the Queen of Naples (Reine de Naples in France) in 1812.
For the first time in its collections, Breguet is unveiling a Reine de Naples model with a black “Grand Feu” enamel dial. Complemented by swirling Breguet Arabic numerals, this new design is embellished with brilliant-cut diamonds. A sumptuous pear-cut diamond is positioned at 6 o’clock.
Notably, the black enamel dial features the same characteristics featured on Breguet’s men’s watches with enamel dials, especially the elegant minute markings inspired by classic Breguet pocket watch displays. The dial’s minute markers are divided into three types: stars for the minutes, lozenges for the quarters, and a mixture of dots and a “V” for the five-minute markers.
The 8918’s black enamel dial is not only eye-catching, but it also distinguishes it from the traditional ladies’ watch, which is often light or pastel in color. To balance it, Breguet presented something more conventional.
The other new 8918 variant is very similar but dressed in white and red. The dial is mother-of-pearl with red numbers, and the bezel is encrusted with rubies, resulting in a traditional ladies’ watch that is really perfect to celebrate the Chinese New Year.
The white mother-of-pearl and ruby model elegantly combines mother-of-pearl and guilloché with subtle touches of color. Its Breguet numerals are enhanced by a red hue, echoing the ruby setting on its bezel, flange, and crown. This timepiece also boasts a pear-cut ruby positioned at 6 o’clock.
The 8918 is powered by a small automatic movement designed for women’ watches in both models. Like other Breguet movements, it originated from an older Lemania calibre but has been significantly enhanced. It comes with a silicon escapement, a hairspring, and 45 hours of power reserve. This little movement is visible via the caseback’s lower half.
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