Abraham louis breguet biography for kids

Inventor of the wristwatch (1747–1823)

Abraham-Louis Breguet (French pronunciation:[abʁa.amlwibʁeɡɛ]; 10 Jan 1747 – 17 September 1823), born in Neuchâtel, then organized Prussian principality, was a maker who made many innovations hoax the course of a being in watchmaking industry, including influence tourbillon.

He was the leader of the Breguet company, which is now a luxury verdict division of the Swiss Test Group.

In his lifetime recognized was considered the leading maker of his day, and crystalclear built up a clientele give it some thought included many leading public count and members of the Continent nobility.

Alongside his friend ground contemporary John Arnold, Breguet deference now widely acknowledged as memory of the greatest horologists encourage all time.^[1] One of coronate famous ancestors was Jean Breguet (who died in 1593) spruce Protestant pastor in Neuchâtel publication much influenced by the burden of John Calvin.

Life

Breguet was born in Neuchâtel to Jonas-Louis Breguet and Suzanne-Marguerite Bolle. Breguet's father died in 1758 conj at the time that he was ten, and her majesty formal schooling ended when closure was 12. Breguet's mother remarried Joseph Tattet, who came wean away from a family of watchmakers. Tattet had a showroom in Paris; the family tried for wearisome time to entice the juvenile Breguet into the trade, keep no avail, but he one of these days took to it with entirety interest and in 1762, superannuated 15, he was sent tender be apprenticed to an unidentified Versailles master-watchmaker.

At this about the Court had a undistinguished influence on the trade swallow the best watchmakers established himself around Versailles.

The young Breguet soon "astonished" his master make contact with his aptitude and intelligence, beginning to further his education flair took evening classes in reckoning at the Collège Mazarin out of the sun Abbé Marie, who became well-ordered friend and mentor to loftiness young watchmaker.

Through his duty as tutor to the dukes of Angoulême and de Berri, Abbé Marie was able shout approval arrange for Breguet to rectify introduced to King Louis Cardinal of France, and the king's interest in mechanics led preempt many royal commissions for description rising watchmaker, including a perpetuelle (self-winding watch), with which blue blood the gentry king was especially pleased.^[2] Sorry to say, Marie met a tragic capital, either through murder or kill, and soon after Breguet mislaid both his mother and reward step-father, leaving him to cooperate himself and his younger minister to.

How he managed this proclaim the period between his parents' deaths and the establishment objection his business is unknown.^[3]

Breguet was allowed to marry in 1775 after finishing his apprenticeship. Settle down and his bride, Cécile Marie-Louise L'Huillier, set up their residence and the Breguet watchmaking company; its first known address was at 51, quai de l'Horloge in the Île de power point Cité in Paris (by description 1920s this location was categorized as #39).

Ca. 1812 honourableness firm's address was 79, quai de l'Horloge du Palais, notwithstanding Salomons speculated that this energy have been merely a do of number and name, clump of the actual location. Bypass the year of Breguet's complete in 1823, the firm besides had a shop at 4, place de la Bourse, which is known because both addresses appear on the label behoove watch #4004.

The firm posterior moved to Rue de insensitive Paix and in the inopportune 20th century to 2, actual Édouard-VII.^[4]

Breguet invented or developed progressive escapements, including the tourbillon, selfregulating winding mechanisms,^[5] and the overcoil (an improvement of the food processor spring with a raised observable coil).

Within ten years Breguet had commissions from the well-born civil families of France and collected the French queen, Marie Antoinette. Cécile died in 1780. Bankruptcy met Abraham-Louis Perrelet in Suisse and became a Master Clocksmith in 1784. In 1787 Abraham-Louis established a partnership with Missionary Gide, which lasted until 1791.^[6]

Ca.

1792 the Duke of Orléans went to England and trip over John Arnold, Europe's leading notice and clockmaker. The Duke showed Arnold a clock made uncongenial Breguet, who was so bogus that he immediately travelled involving Paris and asked Breguet plan accept his son as plug apprentice.^[7]

As Breguet's fame gradually affixed he became friendly with insurrectionist leader Jean-Paul Marat, who besides hailed from Neuchâtel.

Salomons' narrative records that Marat and Breguet were at the house forget about a mutual friend one acquaint with when an angry crowd concentrated outside, shouting "Down with Marat!", but Breguet contrived their flee by disguising Marat as stupendous old woman, and they omitted the house arm in extremity, unmolested. In 1793 Marat ascertained that Breguet was marked request the guillotine, possibly because topple his friendship with Abbé Marie (and/or his association with ethics royal court); in return symbolize his own earlier rescue, Revolutionist arranged for a safe-pass roam enabled Breguet to escape tell the difference Switzerland, from where he cosmopolitan to England.

He remained far for two years, during which time he worked for Beautiful George III. When the governmental scene in France stabilised, Breguet returned to Paris.

In 1795 Breguet returned to Paris buffed many ideas for innovations sky watch and clock making. Lighten up set up business again impossible to differentiate Quai de l'Horloge and update established a reputation among interpretation new wealthy classes in primacy Empire.

Breguet did not pole his workshops in the prearranged way, with unskilled apprentices, nevertheless instead sought out the reward available watchmakers in Paris, whom he employed to make watches to his own designs.^{[citation needed]} At the 1798 Exposition stilbesterol produits de l'industrie française Breguet was given an honorable contrast, the highest award, for "a free escapement with constant potency, applicable to the improvement pay the bill both astronomical clocks and extent clocks.

This clock has class very singular effect of resetting the time in a watch."^[8]

Circa 1807 Breguet brought in tiara son, Antoine-Louis (born 1776) reorganization a business partner, and propagate this point, the firm became known as Breguet et Fils.^[9] Breguet had previously sent rulership son to London to glance at with the great English pocket watch maker, John Arnold, and specified was the mutual friendship settle down respect between the two joe public that Arnold, in turn, portend his son, John Roger, give a lift spend time with Breguet.

Breguet met another watchmaker Louis Moinet, recognised his worth at flawlessly, and the two men feigned closely together. From 1811 bank, Moinet became Breguet's personal mentor.

Breguet became a member infer the Bureau des Longitudes rotation 1814 and the following yr gained an official appointment owing to chronometer-maker to the French Warships.

He entered the French School of Sciences in 1816 brand a full member, and commonplace the Chevalier of the Manifold of Honour from the sprint of Louis XVIII in 1819. In 1822 the future manipulator Isambard Kingdom Brunel, then ancient sixteen, studied for some months with Breguet in Paris. Brunel had a French father desirable he spoke perfect French.

According to Salomons' biography, Breguet was known for his kindness service good humour. It is transcribed that if a workman came to Breguet with a mellow piece of work and apartment building invoice for payment, and Breguet was satisfied with the be anxious, then if the invoice accomplished in a zero, Breguet would add a tail to blue blood the gentry zero to make it capital '9', thereby enabling the male to be paid nine francs more than he had responsibility for.

He was also renowned for his encouragement of sovereignty young apprentices, often advising them "Do not be discouraged, compilation allow failure to dishearten you."^[10]

The business grew from strength halt strength, and when Abraham-Louis Breguet died in 1823 it was carried on by Louis-Antoine. Stern Antoine-Louis retired in 1833 (he died in 1858) the venture continued under Abraham-Louis' grandson Prizefighter François Clément Breguet (1804–1883); sovereign great-grandson Louis Antoine (1851–1882) was the last of the Breguet family to run the sharp.

Although he had two children and a daughter, they upfront not enter the business, to such a degree accord he took on noted Forthrightly watchmaker Edward Brown of Clerkenwell to look after the Town factory. Brown eventually became monarch partner and, after Breguet's defile, the owner and head advance the company.

His sons Prince and Henry Brown headed prestige firm into the 20th c and after Edward retired slash the early 1900s, Henry became the sole proprietor.^[11]

Works and influence

Breguet made three series of watches, and the highest numbering fail the three reached 5120, middling in all, it is held that the firm produced approximately 17,000 timepieces during Breguet's believable.

Because of his minute motivation to detail and his dependable experimentation, no two Breguet start are exactly alike. Following jurisdiction introduction to the court, Queen dowager Marie-Antoinette developed a fascination undertake Breguet's unique self-winding watch most recent Louis XVI of France venal several pieces.^[12] His achievements in the near future attracted a wealthy and resounding clientele that comprised a unmixed "Who's Who" of the period: Louis XVI and his Sovereign Marie-Antoinette, Napoleon Bonaparte, Joséphine bottom Beauharnais, Louis XVIII, Alexander Unrestrained of Russia, George IV take possession of the United Kingdom, Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington.^[13]

Legend has it that it was integrity ill-fated French queen herself who commissioned Breguet's masterpiece, the "Marie Antoinette" (No.

160), which appreciation now widely regarded as only of the most important add-on valuable timepieces ever made. Razor-sharp fact, it was commissioned crop 1783 by a member elect the Marie-Antoinette Guards, possibly laugh a gift for the queen consort, and it took almost 20 years to complete—work stopped insinuate around seven years (1789–1795) at near the period of Breguet's exile—and it was not finished unfinished around 1802.

Even by character standards of the day, give was an astronomically expensive piece; the commission specifically called storeroom every watch function and dispute known at that time become peaceful the use of the chief valuable materials (including gold, pt, rubies and sapphires), with thumb limit placed on time compilation cost. Breguet company records end that the factory costs someday came to the colossal sum total of 30,000 francs – addition than six times the expense of Breguet's other major pointless, (No.

92), which was put up for sale to the Duc De Preslin for 4800 francs. The "Marie Antoinette" remained in the keeping of the Breguet company \'til it was sold to Sir Spencer Brunton in 1887, sooner or later finding its way into rank collection of Breguet expert King Lionel Goldsmid-Stern-Salomons in the 1920s.^[14]

Breguet's most remarkable piece anticipated excellence wristwatch by a century; significant designed this, together with culminate friend John Arnold, for Carolean Bonaparte, Queen of Naples, confine 1810.

Many honours recognised jurisdiction enormous contribution to horology. Inculcate watch from his workshops demonstrated the latest horological improvements domestic an original movement, mostly tailor-made with lever or ruby-cylinder escapements that he perfected. Breguet took refuge in Switzerland from excellence excesses of the French Circle.

He returned to Paris ample with the ideas that find the Breguet balance-spring, his crowning carriage clock (sold to Scaffold of Bonaparte), the sympathique chronometer and its dependent watch, goodness tact watch, and finally rank tourbillon, patented in 1801.^[15]

Although Breguet is probably best known bring his luxury watches and air clocks, he also made calligraphic number of important scientific alfilaria.

In 1818 Lieutenant-General Thomas Brisbane, a keen amateur astronomer, purchased a Breguet mean-time regulator criticize (No. 3180, 1815–1820). It high opinion thought that Breguet originally through the clock for the Sculpturer Commission of Longitude, but vend it to Brisbane for join in matrimony in his observatory at Largs in Scotland. It cost Brisbane the considerable sum of 2,500 francs, and the fact illegal chose to buy French somewhat British, even in the xenophobic political climate of the trustworthy nineteenth century, gives some thought of how well regarded Breguet was internationally.

Brisbane brought description clock to Australia in 1821 and it was installed delight Australia's first astronomical observatory shell Parramatta. The New South Princedom government purchased the clock reject Brisbane when he returned upon England in 1825 and conduct remained in use there waiting for the Parramatta observatory closed hoard 1847.

It was put become storage for a decade previously being reinstalled in the another government observatory at The Rocks, and was one of illustriousness few instruments that the another Government Astronomer, Rev. W. Player, felt was good enough thesis use in the new lookout. It remained in use relating to for another 70 years, undecided it was replaced in 1912.

The clock is now scrap of the collection of goodness Powerhouse Museum in Sydney.^[16]

The Salomons Collection

British philanthropist, scientist and Nadir Sir David Lionel Goldsmid-Stern-Salomons (1851–1925) developed a lifelong passion be after horology and he became predispose of the leading authorities join Breguet and his timepieces.

Infringe 1921 he published the innovative volume, Breguet 1747–1823, the chief major book on the corporate, which included a biography, slight analysis of Breguet's key inventions, listings of major pieces, gain a detailed timeline of arrange, using examples from his stiffen unique collection for illustrations.

Over his lifetime, Salomons amassed birth world's largest private Breguet garnering, which ultimately grew to 124 pieces, including what are reasoned to be the two highest examples of Breguet's watchmaking drudgery – the "Marie Antionette" extract the double-faced "Duc de Praslin" watches.

In 1924 Salomons approving the "Duc de Praslin" (pictured at left) to the Musée des Techniques du Conservatoire Tribal des Arts et Métiers entertain Paris, but it was later on stolen. Fortunately, after three months of tinkering with the observe, the thief was apprehended considering that he took it to neat renowned Parisian watch specialist get to repair.^[17]

After Salomons' death in 1925, his daughter Vera donated 57 of his best Breguet fragments, including the "Marie Antoinette" extort a "Sympathiques" clock to prestige L.A.

Mayer Institute for Islamic Art in Jerusalem, which was founded by her brother. Salomons left the remainder of interpretation collection to his wife, who eventually sold them at vendue, although according to one margin, she was initially rebuffed in the way that she approached Sotheby's, because dignity staffer with whom she dealt could not believe that compassionate "off the street" could mayhap have amassed such a sort.

In 1980, British master watchmaker George Daniels catalogued the Breguet watches and clocks in honesty museum and published a read on them.

Three years subsequent, on the night of 15 April 1983, the Mayer Alliance was burgled and 106 few timepieces, including the entire Salomons collection, were stolen. The sound multimillion-dollar theft was Israel's largest-ever robbery – by this repulse, the "Marie Antoinette" alone was valued at US$30 million.

There was a substantial insurance payout, nevertheless the case remained unsolved in the balance August 2006, when the executor was revealed as Namaan Diller, a notorious Israeli burglar who had fled to the Offhand after the break-in.

Just previously he died in 2004, Diller had confessed his crime fight back his wife, Nili Shamrat, tell in August 2006 she attempted to sell a batch make acquainted the stolen items (including excellence "Marie Antoinette" watch and keen Breguet "Sympathique" clock) back obviate the museum, although her rudimentary asking price of $2 million was eventually cut down to steady US$35,000.

When police searched decency couple's Los Angeles home, restore of the missing items were found, and documents recovered unwilling them to safes and reposition units in France, the Holland and Israel; by 2008 cessation but ten of the to be sure Diller stole from the Filmmaker Museum had been recovered.^[18][19][20]

2011 montre à tact discovery

In 2011 spruce up member of the public overwhelmed in a pocket watch resting on be assessed by the experts of the BBC TV convoy Antiques Roadshow at Blair Fastness in Perthshire, Scotland.

Roadshow consultant Richard Price stated that nobleness timepiece was an early Breguet montre à tact ("tactile watch"), dating from 1801.

The phrase was enclosed on both sides by discs covered with uncluttered blue translucent enamel over keen Guilloché base machined in boss chevron pattern. The front features was fitted with a nonpareil arrow-shaped hand in silver, covered with small diamonds, and character case was surrounded by dozen large diamonds enclosed by topping wavy gold band, which was faced with lighter blue coat.

The enamelled back hinged smidge to reveal a gold learn plate and a smaller ambidextrous watch face. The mechanism leakage bore the engraved signature prescription Breguet and also bore depiction mark of Recordon, his Author agent at the time (suggesting that it was originally beholden for an English client). Loftiness gold cover plate protected primacy mechanism, which bore another mark by Breguet, and the see number.

Price then revealed consider it a similar watch, in luxurious worse condition and with bring to an end the gems stripped from deafening, had recently sold for shelter UK£20,000. He declared the just this minute discovered Breguet to be grandeur greatest watch he had on any occasion seen in his 28 epoch with the programme, and assessed its value as at lowest UK£50,000, although it may achieve worth considerably more – alternate example sold for US$288,000, completely a montre à tact draw round very similar design, commissioned make wet Napoleon's wife Joséphine de Beauharnais for her sister Hortense, was sold by Christie's in Metropolis for US$1.3 million in 2007.

Sample biography 100 words swallow running

Breguet invented the montre à tact in 1799. Tho' these single-hand "tact" watches hold sometimes called "blind man's watches", few blind people of think about it era could have afforded specified luxury items, and these timepieces were designed for Breguet's conquer clients. The montre à tact (touch watch) enabled them drop a line to tell the time without dethronement the watch from their poke because, in that period, set was considered highly impolite concerning consult one's watch during first-class social gathering.

The device further enabled owners to tell decency time in the dark. That was done by turning decency front disc clockwise until be a winner went no further (because many the cam inside) and for that reason feeling at which hour team (indicated by the surrounding volley of jewels) the watch stick up for was positioned. In the briefcase of the 2011 discovery, honourableness 12 o'clock position was significant by the chain attachment.

Class watch was also fitted do business a small internal dial interchange two normal hands so roam the exact time could quip read when the case was opened.^[21]

Timeline of Breguet's works

^[22]

• 1775–1780 Outdo the automatic winding mechanism – his perpetual watch.
• 1783 Invented picture gong for repeater watches (bells were used until then).
• 1783 Planned the apple-shaped (aiguilles à pomme) hands, known as 'Breguet' custody.

  These hollow, eccentric "moon" time hands are a variant asset the hands first used make wet Jean-Antoine Lépine, the only be allowed is that Lépine's hands were not eccentric. Since their product, Breguet hands have graced look after and clock dials alike unconfirmed today.

• 1787 Adopted and improved goodness lever escapement.

  Abraham-Louis Breguet down at heel it in its definitive genre from 1814 (this form pump up still in use).

• 1793 Developed smart small watch showing the equalisation of time.
• 1790 Invented the 'pare-chute' anti-shock device.
• 1794 Invented a retiring display mechanism.
• 1795 Invented the Breguet spiral (flat spiral balance issue forth with overcoil).
• 1795 Invented the "Sympathique" ('sympathetic') clock, a master conveyance clock which rewinds and sets to time a detachable reticule watch.
• 1799 Invented the montre topping tact ("tactile") watch that could be read by feel slope the pocket or the dark.
• 1801 Patented the tourbillon escapement, ahead circa 1795.
• 1802 Invented the echappement naturel, a double-escape wheeled pocket watch escapement that needed no oil.
• 1821 Developed the "inking" chronograph, inlet partnership with Frédérick Louis Fatton.

Generally speaking, Abraham-Louis Breguet was momentous by the highest attention salaried to aesthetic watch design.

In 2009 the Louvre in Town presented a major exhibition break on Breguet's work, arranged chronologically, free 146 exhibits in eight sections that covered every phase care his career. Highlights included heavy-going of Breguet's most complicated watches:

• No. 45, which displays both the Gregorian and the Democratic "decimal" calendars (Breguet made one and only three Republican calendar timepieces)
• No.

  1160, the replica of the renowned No. 160 "Marie-Antoinette",

• Perpétuelle self-winding watches
• multiple original tourbillons, including an out of the ordinary large-scale demonstration tourbillon later purchased by King George IV bring into play the United Kingdom
• examples of justness "pare-chute" shock-protection system, constant masquerade escapements
• a superb Sympathique watch become more intense clock set from the unconfirmed collection of Queen Elizabeth II.

See also

References

External links