The Reine de Naples 8973 10th anniversary piece, a striking watch decorated in
the image of a garden pavilion in the Mediterranean style, evoking the historic
Naples residence of Caroline Murat. The hammers that strike the chimes appeared
above the dial at 11 and 1 o’clock flanking a gold engraved rose with a diamond
in the center that indicates whether the hour striker is engaged. It was set with
approximately 300 diamonds and 300 blue sapphires of various shades.
introduced a special anniversary edition Reine
de Naples (above) that combined high jewelry
with fine watchmaking. It included a striking
mechanism that marks the top of each hour
with two chimes repeated three times.
The design and decorations of the bridges
and rotor form the image of a garden pavilion
in the Mediterranean style, evoking the
historic Naples residence of Caroline Murat.
The hammers that strike the chimes appeared
above the dial at 11 and 1 o’clock flanking a
gold engraved rose with a diamond in the
center that indicates whether the hour striker
is engaged. It was set with approximately
300 diamonds and 300 blue sapphires of
various shades.
Other masterpieces of the collection include
the Jour Nuit, with a novel use of the balance
wheel to represent the sun, the daytime
indication, and the utterly unique Ref. 8958,
with a cameo carved out of seashell serving
as the dial, centered by 58 brown diamonds.
In the Imperial Europe of Caroline Murat’s
day, where borders changed frequently,
Napoleon had conquered many papal lands.
He entrusted the rule of these lands only to
his various family members and, 1806, offered
Caroline the principality of Neuchâtel. She
declined, on the grounds it was too small,
but had she accepted, Caroline would have
reigned over a country of watchmakers, a
fitting responsibility for the owner of the very
first wristwatch.
42 | INTERNATIONAL WATCH | SUMMER 2018
The Reine de Naples 8918 with an engine-turned Tahitian and natural
white mother-of-pearl dial and an 18-karat gold case with bezel and
flange set with 117 diamonds. The crown is set with a 0.26-carat
diamond. It contains automatic Caliber 537/3. Dimensions 36.5 x
28.45mm.
The 36.5mm x 28.45mm
Reine de Naples 8918
with an engine-turned
Tahitian and natural
mother-of-pearl dial and
a gold case with bezel
and flange set with 117
diamonds. The crown
is set with a 0.26-carat
diamond. Inside is
automatic
Caliber 537/3.
The Breguet Reine de
Naples Mini 8928, with a white
gold case, with bezel, flange and lugs
set with 139 diamonds. The dial is
natural white mother-of-pearl.