Breguet's Masterpiece - The 'Marie Antoinette'
Vložit
- čas přidán 7. 09. 2024
- A gesture of love, unequalled craftsmanship and timeless beauty. These are the ingredients of the intriguing story of Breguet’s iconic pocket watch created for Marie Antoinette. The journey of this rare timepiece takes us through the years of the French Revolution and ends at the beginning of the 21st century.
-------------------
Sources / Further reading
Breguet by Sir David Lionel Salomons, London: Printed for the Author, 1921
web.archive.or...
www.breguet.co...
---------------------
Image Credits:
Clocks at the L. A. Mayer Institute by Deror_avi - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0 commons.wikime...
Marie Antoinette Watch by Michael.vainshtein - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0
commons.wikime...
West facade of Petit Trianon at Château de Versailles in Versailles by Moonik - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0 commons.wikime...
I find it amazing how many details about the watch are still known so so many years after its creation, even despite such turmoil as the French Revolution and it getting stolen and so on.
You would think that things like the exact running number of the watch get lost quite quickly, but apparently not so.
Probably even more amazing is that the timepiece got completed even though Marie Antoinette, Count Fersen and Breguet himself had died one after the other before it was ultimately finished.
Very impressive that in spite of all those.. difficulties, they just clearly decided that the project had to be finished somehow. Very dedicated.
I find it beautiful that the watch initially got bought by someone who really and genuinely seemed to appreciate it. Creating those sorts of timepieces really is an art at least as much at it is a science, and they deserve to be admired by someone who knows what has gone into creating them.
I must say it kinda hurts to think that probably countless numbers of wonderful art pieces are essentially locked away in storage and are not getting admired daily as they would deserve.
Very very tragic that it ultimately got stolen though, very sad.
But then again very beautiful that at least it and most of its brothers and sisters were returned in good shape ^-^
What a story for a watch, very fascinating. Thank you very much for telling it ❤
It is so beautiful and fascinating that an object can have this kind of life of its own. Does that mean it still is an object or has it through all these events develped its own soul?
Again thank you very much for this video and all your others, i very very much enjoyed this one and appreciate all of them ❤
I wish you all the best, have a wonderful week ^-^
You are right - this unique object has developed somehow a soul of its own.
I am delighted you liked the story. Thank you very much for your kind words of appreciation. Make sure you look after yourself. Best, L & H
I'm thankful that Breguet was able to escape because we probably wouldn't have this full story if he couldn't do so, someone would've found the watch and not the story behind it.
Wow! I am so glad they are all back in the hands of the Museum.
Yes, indeed. Thank you for watching.
I am so proud of Breguet for somehow getting a thermometer in the watch, he had to of been using thermal expansion of a material to fit heat measurement in such a small piece.
Oh wow! I did some more research and he uses a bimetallic property for the thermometer, he has amazing knowledge despite having been alive so long ago.
He was a genius. And he was also an inventor of many things in his field. A great mind. Thank you for watching.
What a beautiful yet sad story. I am a big fan of Queen Marie Antoinette and to learn about this watch was a wonderful experience. Thank you so much for teaching me about this precious timepiece through this amazing video.
I'm really glad you liked the video, Vishnu. Thank you very much for watching.
Love to listen and learn from your channel 💐💐Beautiful watches am sure..
So nice of you. Thank you, Stella.
Your channel is one of my favorite YT channels. Never ever disappointed. Thank you
Thank you so much for your kind words. I'm happy to know you think so.
What an incredible beautiful watch, such skill and dedication went into its makeing he was a genius, I'm glad to hear it's back in the world, sadly count feron and and the Queen never got to see this amazing watch, Thank you as always L&H for this story of this macnifcent watch.
Thank you, Robert. I'm glad you enjoyed the video.
@@livesandhistories always a plesure H&C, thank you.
щ
Many creations become bigger than the buyer and maker. Certain pieces transcend time
You're right. Thank you for watching, Stephanie.
So well researched!
I am so glad you liked it. I tried to include all the best bits of this story.
@@livesandhistories thank you for all of your hard work
Thank you for your wonderful research. I read that as a young boy Isambard Kingdom Brunel worked with Brequet.
Thank you for sharing this, Sheila. It must have been through his father, who was French, that Isambard Kingdom Brunel met Breguet. I’m really glad you liked the video.
@@livesandhistories It came from a recess of my mind, so I just checked it out. From L. T.C. Root’s book it says that when he was 14 Marc Brunel sent IKB as an apprentice to Brequet. “ The exacting standards of workmanship upon which Brunel insisted throughout his life, …….. were undoubtably formed this time.” Thank you for the info on Brequet, I didn’t know about his remarkable life.
@@sheilaleslie1323 And thank you for mentioning Brunel - it's fascinating how details like these are interconnected.
What a story!
The minute I heard it might was put in a museum I knew it would be stolen. Strange they weren't sold on. I'm guessing they were too hot.
Too hot, yes. Thank you very much for watching.
Some people steal "unsellable" works of art simply because they are obsessed with owning them. That is the power of beauty. . . . .
It was NEVER proven there was an affair only a friendship is known for sure
Axel and Marie Antoinette had a sad love story. He couldn't save her and died by mob lynching. His love is exemplary, ironically his gift still survives today yet they have long perished away.
Timeless love. Well said, Ambreen. Thank you for watching.
"Live is short; art is long".
I didn't know this story, this is really cute and tragic at the same time, such a beautiful piece, i really appreciate your videos, now I know more things
I'm really glad you liked this story. Thank you for watching, Ernesto.
Amazing! More royal jewelry and watch videos please!
Thank you very much. I'm really glad you liked it.
Wonderful story and video thank you
Thank you for watching, Toni.
Superbe!
Thank you, Ludovic.
Interesting
The Thief's wife wanted payment? I hope they didn't give it to her.
Apparently, she was paid some money initially in order to make her disclose more details. Thank you for watching.
💞💞
Thank you, Linda.
Una historia muy interesante que parece de ficción. Gracias.
Thank you very much for watching.
Dam it didn't mention if the theif wife got paid for returning the watch.