Posted
on January 10, 2015
I
read that our birthday boy, Abraham-Louis Breguet, was one of the
greatest horologists of all times.
Swell...but
what the heck is an horologist?
It's
someone who studies the measurement of time – someone who creates
devices that measure time.
In
other words, a watchmaker or clockmaker!
Born
in Switzerland on this date in 1747, Breguet became famous for his
watchmaking skills and knowledge. He and his friend John Arnold were
both considered THE leading watchmakers of their day and are still
considered some of the best of all time. They created watches and
clocks for famous people, noblemen, and even kings and at least one
queen of France.
His
company, the Breguet company, is now the luxury watch division of the
Swiss Swatch group.
Get
this: even though his company produced around 17,000 timepieces
during Breguet's life, no two pieces are exactly alike! How is that
possible? It turns out that Breguet was constantly experimenting and
improving his timepieces, and he paid attention to every tiny detail,
and these tiny adjustments and details helped set each individual
watch or clock apart, as well.
Here
are some of Breguet's achievements:
the “Marie Antoinette,” now widely held as one of the most important and valuable timepieces ever made.
- self-winding (automatic winding) mechanisms.
- the tourbillon, which counters the effects of gravity on clockworks.
- scientific clocks, one of which was used for almost a century, it was so accurate.
- the gong for repeater watches.
- anti-shock devices.
- a “sympathetic” carriage clock that rewinds and sets time to a detachable pocket watch.
Also
on this date:
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ahead:
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out my Pinterest pages on:
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