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That was only as it should be, because he was and remains the greatest of all watchmakers. Of all the prestigious brands in the watchmaking sector, a special aura surrounds Breguet.
Backed by an unrivalled heritage, it also imposes on those who have custody of the name today the need to respect a tradition dating back for over two centuries. Nicolas Hayek is aware of this fact. He intends to carry the new jewel in his watchmaking crown forward. He will do so by respecting as far as possible to the letter the monumental heritage of the most French of all Swiss watchmakers.
There is nothing to fear. A Breguet will always be a Breguet. Its uniquely distinctive case will still house movements of the finest quality, rivalled only by the sophistication of their complications.
The new Breguet chief intends to make the illustrious watchmaker’s known and admired all over the world: by boosting sales of the brand which are forecast to rise from around 8000 pieces this year with turnover of just under 100 million francs to around 25,000 timepieces worth 500 million in ten years time; by creating a network of around thirty Breguet boutiques all over the world; by launching a new promotional campaign focussing on the brand’s famous customers (beginning with Winston Churchill and Napoleon) or writers who made reference to it (A.Pushkin(Russia) and Stendhal).
A further innovation is the launch of a line of jewellery made in the Breguet spirit and designed for women who are not interested in ephemeral fashion and its icons.
At 20 Place Vendome, with Van Cleef & Arpels and Mauboussin as its prestigious neighbours, the Paris boutique, which was officially opened on 14 September, is currently the only outlet anywhere in the world to offer the full(!) Breguet collection, including new lines of jewellery. A welcoming atmosphere pervades these premises, typified by harmony in everything, from the oval shapes to the light colours of the walls,partly with wooden panelling, and furniture in the traditional lines of the late 18th century. The lighting conveys an appropriate golden tone.
20 Place Vendome is not just a place dedicated to sales. Customers and devotees of fine watchmaking can discover here the Breguet museum. For the time being, some 40 antique watches are on display together with the precious brand archives. Watch 5038 is particularly noteworthy. It was sold on 13 October 1832 to Count Demidov and acquired by Nicolas Hayek, with four other Breguet masterpieces.
The past and ,of course, the present of Breguet are rich in extraordinary events. The same will still hold good in future because Nicolas Hayek has already planned to inaugurate other museums worldwide. He will be opening a Breguet school of fine watchmaking and worthily celebrating next year the 200th anniversary of the Tourbillon, a brilliant invention by the hand of …Breguet! Choose Breguet replica watches among a rich variety of exclusive timepieces.
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