Behold the Mighty Morphin Minute Hand on Breguet’s New Watches

The graceful Reine de Naples collection adds a technical edge with the new references 9835 and 9838, each distinct in style but bearing the same remarkable mechanism: a malleable minute hand that changes shape as it sweeps around the oval dial. The ingenious mechanism developed by Breguet is made up of two curved arms joined at the ends, controlled by a set of gears that change its length and shape depending on its position — stretched out when pointing to 12 o’clock, and rounded and full at 6 o’clock — by having each arm operate at a different speed.

In a limited edition of 20 pieces, the Reine de Naples 9835 features a midnight blue mother-of-pearl dial with subtle variations across its expanse, within a white gold case. The flange, bezel and lugs are set with 161 diamonds, a briolette-cut diamond adorns the crown, and the folding clasp bears another 28 diamonds. An aperture in the centre of the dial indicates the hour, while powder silver-toned numerals in a handwritten style dot the periphery. A deep blue alligator leather strap completes the look.

Meanwhile, the Reine de Naples 9838 bears a white lacquered dial within its white gold case, and instead of diamonds it is set with blue sapphires — 118 on the bezel and flange, totalling approximately 1.74ct; a 0.32-ct stunner on the crown; and 28 on the white gold triple blade folding clasp of the alligator strap, totalling 0.19ct. Both references run on the 78A0 self-winding movement, with a 40-hour power reserve.