After the Louvre Museum in 2009, the Swiss National Museum is devoting a retrospective to the art and the life of Abraham-Louis Breguet, commonly referred to as «the greatest horologer of all time». Born in Switzerland, he established himself in Paris and extended his network throughout Europe at the turn of the 19th century. This prestigious exhibition bringing together over 175 exceptional pieces is presented at the Château de Prangins from June 10th to September 19th 2011 and at the Landesmuseum in Zurich from October 6th 2011 to January 7th 2012.

Curators: Nicole Minder, director of the Swiss National Museum – Château de Prangins / Emmanuel Breguet, historian, head of the archives and historical collections of the Montres Breguet SA Collection.

Message from the Swiss National Museum Directors

Why a Breguet exhibition at the Swiss National Museum?

One of Breguet’s masterpieces, the travelling clock acquired by Napoleon Bonaparte in 1798 for his Egyptian campaign, was loaned by the Swiss National Museum to the Louvre in 2009 for its exhibition devoted to the greatest horologer of all time. Due to Abraham-Louis Breguet’s Swiss origins and to his close ties with the horological traditions of the Neuchâtel and Geneva regions, this exhibition also naturally deserved to be shown in Switzerland. We are thus extremely grateful to the management of the Louvre Museum for having generously authorised us to adapt the concept.

The Swiss National Museum, with its various sites in different linguistic regions, is an ideal institution to host this presentation. Moreover, its location in the French-speaking area of the country, in an 18th century style castle built in a classical French style and purchased in 1814 by Napoleon’s elder brother, Joseph Bonaparte, ex-King of Naples and Spain, is entirely in tune with the universe of the famous Swiss horologer who conquered the world through his talent.

Within this context, we wish to pay tribute to the man who made this project possible, Nicolas G. Hayek, former President and CEO of Breguet S.A., who sadly died during the preparation of this exhibition which remains the last one he specifically expressed a wish to organise. Himself an emigrant, like Breguet with whom he found it easy to identify, he had a broad vision of the mission of an entrepreneur, which he believed encompassed a social and cultural role. In this respect, preserving a historical heritage and passing on knowledge were two of his top priorities – expressed on the one hand by the constitution of a fabulous collection of watches and historical documents judiciously enriching the archives of the House of Breguet; and, on the other, by cultural patronage activities around the world. This exhibition and this catalogue are dedicated to his memory.

Nicole Minder, director of the Swiss National Museum – Château de Prangins.
Dr Andreas Spillmann, director of the Swiss National Museum.

Letter from Marc A. Hayek

President and CEO of Montres Breguet SA

It is with great pride and considerable emotion that I am witnessing the association of two prestigious institutions: the Swiss National Museum and the House of Breguet.

The Swiss National Museum has long since presented a number of creations bearing the «Breguet» signature, and wished to give a new lease on life to the exhibition held in the Louvre in 2009, while adding its own specific touch. Fine watchmaking is a living art, for which my grandfather Nicolas G. Hayek had clearly foreseen a bright future despite the clouds looming over ageing companies. When his determination led to Breguet joining the Swatch Group in 1999, this acquisition represented the integration of significant piece of the European cultural heritage within a group capable of restoring its former dynamism. Like the brand founder, Abraham-Louis Breguet, my grandfather constantly innovated, overturned existing conventions and revelled in taking risks. Over the past ten years, he devoted himself to the task of perpetuating Breguet’s work by combining technical innovations and aesthetic beauty. Beauty is exactly what you will encounter in this exhibition and in the pages of this book, and I am proud to have you share in our love of fine watchmaking.

The pieces you will discover belong to the rich collection built up by my grandfather, as well as to the Louvre Museum, to several Swiss museums and to other major institutions in various countries who have joined us in this magnificent adventure. Take a good look at these horological marvels, watches and clocks: they embody a pinnacle of European horology and are objets d’art as well as objects of science; they once belonged to all the prominent celebrities of the era and have lived through milestone moments in history. But look at them without any sense of nostalgia, because history has not stood still, and Breguet’s successors are still daily and successfully rising to the challenges of perpetuating this legacy. Fine watchmaking still exists; it is a living, concrete and poetic art, a truly useful and comforting luxury.

Practical information

A.-L. Breguet. How watchmaking conquered the world

From June 10th to September 19th 2011
Swiss National Museum – Château de Prangins
CH – 1197 Prangins
Phone: + 41 22 994 88 90
info.prangins@snm.admin.ch
www.chateaudeprangins.ch
www.breguet.chateaudeprangins.ch
Opening hours: Tuesday–Sunday, 10 am to 5 pm

Admission

Museum and exhibition: CHF 10.– / 8.–
Historical garden: free
Open-air exhibition: free
Children up to the age of 16 and schools: free
Guided tour on request: CHF 120.–

Activities organised around the exhibition

Encounters with the Breguet craftspeople

An engraver, a beveller, an engine-turner and a cameo engraver will be present for a demonstration.
In parallel: 
Public guided tour with museum guide Pamela Hunziker (in French). 
Workshop for children aged 6 to 12 and entitled «Temps mieux!» (in French).
Booking on the spot.
Sunday July 3rd 2011
Sunday August 7th 2011
Sunday August 28th 2011
1.30 pm – 5.30 pm / CHF 10.–

Encounter with Emmanuel Breguet

Historian, head of the archives and historical collections of the Montres Breguet SA Collection, exhibition co-curator. 
Public conference and guided tour: Abraham-Louis Breguet, la naissance d’un réseau international (in French). 
Thursday September 1st, 7 pm / CHF 10.–