The stylish Breguet boutique on London’s New Bond Street was a welcome retreat from the cold winter rain on 9 March, when Brummell hosted an exclusive event with the luxury watch house. A crowd of our distinguished “Women of Brummell” gathered over a glass or two of champagne to learn more about the Swiss brand’s unparalleled craftsmanship and heritage.

Distinguished Women of Brummell enjoyed champagne inside the luxury watchmaker’s boutique on Bond Street

Jo Glasbey, editor of Brummell and watch editor of Times Luxx, hosted an intimate panel discussion with Helen Kirkup, Breguet UK brand director, and boutique manager Stuart Kerr, to bring to life the brand’s storied past and present and discuss what makes it a true pioneer.

Being a Breguet event, it was very well-timed, taking place just after International Women’s Day

Breguet was founded in Paris in 1775 by Swiss watchmaker Abraham-Louis Breguet and is renowned as one of the most important and influential names in the industry. Breguet himself was a talented watchmaker who is directly responsible for a number of “firsts” in watchmaking that are still in use today, including the tourbillon and the self-winding timepiece. As the event was held the day after International Women’s Day, it was timely to discuss the many women who played important roles in his career, starting with his wife, whose dowry was used to found his watchmaking business. Breguet is credited with inventing the first women’s wristwatch for his greatest patron, Napoleon’s sister Caroline Murat, who became Queen of Naples. The unique oval-shaped watch named in her honour remains one of Breguet’s most iconic designs. Other aristocratic patrons included Marie Antoinette, Empress Joséphine and latterly Queen Victoria and the late Queen Elizabeth II.

The panel comprised watch editor Jo Glasbey, Breguet’s UK brand director Helen Kirkup, and boutique manager Stuart Kerr

The evening was full of incredible stories about the brand’s founder and the history and craftsmanship of the company, including the fact that a priceless Breguet watch created for Marie Antoinette (sadly finished after her death, having taken 40 years to make) was stolen from The Museum for Islamic Art in Jerusalem and lay stashed under a bed for two decades – until a deathbed confession by its thief revealed its whereabouts. There was also a discussion about how the story of Breguet, a brand steeped in deep cultural heritage and European history, which creates these horological works of art in themselves, has come full circle with the company’s recent sponsorship of the global Frieze art fairs.

Afterwards, guests were invited to try on Breguet timepieces for themselves – armed with another glass of champagne, of course.