The Story of the Breguet no. 2023
Breguet no. 2023 / Credit: Breguet
Today, Breguet is usually associated with haute horlogerie, but Breguet nerds will know that it is also remembered for its association with aviation, the Breguet Type XX, for example, was originally made for the French military.
That reputation is what attracted Ettore Bugatti, founder of Automobiles E. Bugatti, in the late 1920s. Bugatti had just won the first ever Monaco Grand Prix in 1929 and was enjoying great success, Ettore had even started building airplanes in the early 1930s. That’s when the idea of putting a Breguet dashboard chronograph inside a Bugatti luxury automobile was conceived! In 1932, Bugatti ordered 9 Breguet dashboard clocks to put into their Bugatti Type 41 “Royale”. One of those was the Breguet no. 2023.
Breguet no. 2023 / Credit: Breguet
The Royale was produced from 1927 to 1933, it was longer and heavier than the Rolls-Royce Phantom, but was not that successful due to the effects of the Great Depression (today, however, it is one of the most expensive cars around). Nonetheless, Ettore wanted his cars fit with an appropriate dashboard clock – although he wanted it in the middle of the steering wheel – and settled on the Breguet (he was also a friend of the brand). The watches he got were manual winding, with 8-day power reserves, and a cumulative minutes counter at 6 o’clock. Breguet claims to have designed it specifically for the automotive industry, including a tachymeter on the dial.
Breguet no. 2023 / Credit: Breguet
The story doesn’t end there. As we know the vintage watch market has really blown up in the last couple decades and timepieces that were left to gather dust for years have been sold for tens of thousands. Brands have also noticed the resurgence of some vintage models and started buying them back, which is exactly what Breguet did. In 2016, at an Artcurial auction at the Rétromobile Exhibition in Paris, Breguet bought back one of the original pieces delivered to Bugatti, the no. 2023, for 76,200 euros.
So, next time you pick up a Breguet with the idea that it’s haute horlogerie, remember the racing and aviation heritage they come with.
By: Andres Ibarguen
Bugatti Type 41 ‘Royale’ pictured at Goodwood in 1932 with Jean Bugatti / Credit: Bugatti