Before there were icons, before there were independents, before there was modern watchmaking as we understand it — there was Breguet.

In this episode of Watches and Politics — Series 3: Watch Books, I explore The Art of Breguet — a book that doesn’t just document a watchmaker, but explains how modern horology itself was invented.

This is not a brand celebration.It’s a study of ideas made mechanical.

In this episode, we discuss:• why Abraham-Louis Breguet is considered the father of modern watchmaking• how innovation and aesthetics became inseparable in his work• the political, scientific, and cultural world Breguet operated in• why Breguet watches were instruments of power, not just luxury• how the book frames authorship, invention, and legacy• who should read this book — and who may find it demanding

This episode connects directly to:Series 1 — time, power, and modern systemsSeries 2 — institutional memory and authoritySeries 3 — the written canon of watch culture

Series 3 is the library of Watchesand Politics — where watches are read as historical arguments.

📌 Subscribe for weekly watch book episodes📌 Comment with the Breguet invention you find most important📌 Share with the friend who says “everything traces back to Breguet” — because they might be right

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