One of the most renowned and valuable timepieces in the world, the Breguet No. 160 ‘Marie Antoinette’ watch, will go on display for the first time in the UK at the Versailles: Science and Splendour exhibition, opening at the Science Museum in London on December 12, 2024. This masterpiece, designed by legendary Swiss watchmaker Abraham-Louis Breguet, was originally commissioned for France’s Queen Marie Antoinette in 1783, though it wasn’t completed until years after her death.
The Versailles: Science and Splendour exhibition will explore the intersection of scientific innovation and royal opulence during the 17th and 18th centuries. It showcases how the French monarchy used science and technological advancements to reinforce its prestige and power. The Breguet watch, known for its intricate design and craftsmanship, will be one of the exhibition’s key highlights.
Crafted from precious materials such as gold, platinum, rubies, and sapphires, the ‘Marie Antoinette’ watch is a true testament to Breguet’s genius. Featuring a clear crystal dial that reveals its complex inner workings, the timepiece is packed with innovative mechanisms known as complications. Among its 823 parts, the watch includes a perpetual calendar, a thermometer, an independent second hand that functions as a stopwatch, and an on-demand chime to announce the hour, quarter hour, and minute. Breguet’s attention to detail and mechanical brilliance made this timepiece one of the most sophisticated of its era.
The watch was commissioned by Queen Marie Antoinette, who was a known admirer of Breguet’s work. However, the watch was not completed until the 1820s, long after both Marie Antoinette and Breguet had passed away. Despite the long wait, the timepiece was a symbol of both scientific achievement and royal luxury, emblematic of the spirit of Versailles, where art, science, and power intersected. The watch remained in the Breguet family’s possession until 1887 and was later sold to various collectors. It was stolen in 1983 but recovered in 2008 after more than two decades.
Now, for the first time, the watch will be displayed outside of its permanent home at the L.A. Mayer Museum for Islamic Art in Jerusalem. Its appearance in the Versailles: Science and Splendour exhibition offers a rare opportunity to witness this extraordinary object of history. The timepiece is not just a watch, but a testament to the intersection of scientific innovation, royal opulence, and the relentless pursuit of perfection.
