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Culture news, 11.06.2004 13:58

Antique Breguet watches in the Hermitage

Antique Breguet watches in the Hermitage On 10 June an exhibition opened in the State Hermitage devoted to Abraham Louis Breguet, a famous watchmaker who raised production of watches to the level of an art. The exhibition of antique Breguet watches in the State Hermitage which took place in the Blue Bedroom of the Winter Palace is indicative of the long time relations between the watch manufacturer and Russia. Chairman of the Board of Directors and President of Montres Breguet S.A. Nicholas G. Hayek plans to organize similar exhibitions in the largest museums of the world – in Europe, in the USA, and in Asia – to demonstrate Breguet’s contribution to European culture.

More than 100 exhibit items will be on display in the State Hermitage. Included in the exhibition are the military field watch with pedometer that belonged to Emperor Alexander I; the watch called ‘Sympathique’ of Grand Duke Konstantin; carriage clocks that were made for Napoleon Bonaparte and Prince Demidov; ceremonial watches of the Emperor on which the maps of Russia and St Petersburg were engraved; and also the Duc de Praslin watch. The latter is considered one of the most complex watches ever made by A.-L. Breguet.

A.-L. Breguet established long term and advantageous ties with the Russian imperial court after earning the honorary title of clockmaker to the Russian fleet. His Russian clients were members of the most illustrious families of the empire and occupied an important place among Breguet’s over-all clientele.

To mark the 300th anniversary of St Petersburg, Montres Breguet S.A. produced a limited-edition watch model for the Russian market and Breguet boutiques. Only 300 of these watches were made.

News source: www.hermitage.ru

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