When haute horology meets fine art: Frieze Art Fair shines the spotlight on Breguet

At this year’s Frieze Art Fair in New York, independent curator and Apsara Studio founder Jenn Ellis would unveil the product of an artistic collaboration brokered by Breguet and Frieze a year ago.

She worked with the multi-disciplinary artist Dawn Ng to explore the contradictory reckonings of time through the ephemeral, which, in this case, she did by means of ice. The exhibition tackled the central question: what if time as described as colour, shape, or form?

Entitled ‘An Atlas of Us’, the inaugural exhibition highlighted the horological craftsmanship associated with Breguet, as well as Ng’s work represented by moving images, a lightbox, photography and painting. Here, the artist and curator looked into the the evolution and cyclical nature of deep time reflected on the surfaces one interact withs. As such, Ellis herself would laud Ng for her geographical considerations and topographical readings.

“Collaborating with Breguet, a brand that is vested in not only time but also in the notions of heritage, is interesting and prompts me to think about what predates us, in particular land, topography, and geological formations,” Ng explained. “Through my presentation, I am excited to unpack thoughts around what makes us ‘us.'”

The showcase is the latest in Breguet multi-year collaboration with Frieze. Ellis had even been invited to Breguet’s manufacturing center in the Vallée de Joux for the endeavor, and was delighted by the visit. “It was incredible to not just understand but feel the emotion, care, and technical skill that goes into making each Breguet piece,” she continued. “There is a profound respect for heritage and finding the balance between historical articulation and innovation.”

‘Historical articulation and innovation’

Breguet’s Classique collection illustrates the brand’s origins through a series of expressions that take from the original ideas of Abraham-Louis Breguet himself. Now, the Maison adds three more remarkable versions to the fabled Classique collection, honoring its metamorphosis throughout the decades.

The first is the Classique Tourbillon 3358, seen here in two colours: Starlit night and Stunning sight. Starlit night features a white gold frame and a midnight blue, mother-of-pearl dial, paired with diamond-studded stars. The piece is meant to mimic the allure of the beautiful midnight sky.

Stunning sight, on the other hand, boasts a rose gold frame and a dial adorned with 281 diamonds. Both watches reveal the tourbillon at 6 o’clock, and is powered by a 187 D movement calibre, with a 50-hour power reserve.

The second timepiece in this collection is the Classique Tourbillon Extra-Plat Squelette 5395. This three-millimeter-thick watch is designed as thin as possible for the tourbillon movement. It’s considered to be one of the finest self-winding tourbillon movements in the world.

This delicate timepiece weighs not more than 0.290 grams and has a fully skeletonized design. With a refined yet imposing design, this watch provides the wearer’s risk with an added layer of sophistication, thanks to the gray movement and rose gold case and the rose movement in a platinum case.

Completing the ensemble is the Classique Quantième Perpétuel 7327. This timepiece, on the other hand is a reinterpretation of the classic perpetual calendar in two gold colours: the first is one in white gold paired with a blue alligator leather strap while the second is in rose gold paired with a brown alligator leather strap.

The signature piece houses a 502-calibre movement with an additional calendar mechanism and a 45-hour power reserve. Its silver-gold dial is adorned with a hand-engraved Clous de Paris hobnail pattern, punctuated by the iconic Breguet hands.

What sets this wonderful timepiece apart is its use of a perpetual calendar. This unique mechanism, in itself, is among one of the more revered features in haute horology. Because of its complex structure, no less than 294 components are required to bring this model to life.

Visit Breguet and Frieze for more information.

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