By Breguet Blog
July 1st, 2024
BREGUET’S WATCHMAKERS are both fearless and humble. No challenge is either too great or too mundane to spark Breguet’s innovative instincts. Over the years, many well-known literary figures have immortalised their admiration for the craft of Abraham-Louis Breguet in many classic works. The most famous quotes can be found here: Breguet in Literature. In appreciation of those authors, the maison embarked on the challenge of creating an original set of writing instruments.
Featured in this article are pens inspired by the Classique collection of watches which celebrate Breguet’s artistry and aesthetic in a collection of simple (time-only) and complicated watches. These include perpetual calendars and sublime moon-phase displays; Breguet’s proprietary, high frequency escapement (10Hz); the alarm wristwatch Le Reveil du Tsar; the charming La Musicale as well as a number of exceptional chronographs culminating in the magnificent Hora Mundi.
The full set of writing instruments consists of three pens: Classique fountain pen, Classique ballpoint pen / mechanical pencil and Classique roller pen, all in 925 sterling silver with platinum plating to prevent tarnishing. The pens are available individually or as a full set. They are presented in beautiful lacquered wooden marquetry boxes that are finished to the same high standard as the boxes which accompany Breguet’s finest timepieces.
Classique Fountain Pen
The fountain pen is naturally the highlight of the collection.1 The hallmarks from Breguet’s watchmaker’s are immediately evident and have been seamlessly carried over from the Classique collection of watches. The chief characteristics are:
- Barrel/Screw-in Cap/Flexible Clip: Guilloché on sterling silver barrel and cap with “Breguet Blue” resin accents. A small blue sapphire located at the top of the clip; guilloché “fluted” bands on the cap and barrel
- Nib: 18k white gold with Breguet’s classic “B” monogram
- Signature: Cap engraved with maker’s name at point of clip, classic “B” monogram on top of the cap
- Length: 14cm
- Accompaniments: Maker’s presentation box, guarantee card and black ink pot
The fountain pen is a classic piston-filled pen and therefore eschews the common cartridge or converter for refilling. That means the pen is pump-activated by rotation of the extremity of the pen. Though heavier than most fountain pens, it has been perfectly balanced and the overall weight adds to the pen’s stature as a luxurious writing instrument. The pen is sumptuously adorned with Breguet’s famous guilloché and “wave” pattern and in addition to the quintessential coin-edging (fluted band) located on the end of the cap and barrel, the cap is also adorned with a flexible clip in the style of Breguet’s famous hour and minute hands. One of the outstanding features of these pens is that every part of the pen has been lavishly decorated and hallmarked. The finishing is exquisite and the pen, together with its presentation box, is instantly recognisable as a fine piece of jewellery in its own right.
Classique Ballpoint Pen / Mechanical Pencil
The ballpoint pen was pioneered and patented in 1888 by John J. Loud (1844-1916), an American inventor who graduated as a lawyer from Harvard College.2 The ballpoint has since become the world’s most used writing instrument and, perhaps, the most disposable alongside the ubiquitous pencil.
Breguet’s ballpoint fits the mould of a modern, contemporary pen on the go. This pen is convertible into a mechanical pencil and differs from the roller pen in that it does not have a cap. The specifications are similar to the other two pens in this collection:
- Barrel/Flexible Clip: Guilloché on sterling silver barrel with “Breguet Blue” resin accents. A small blue sapphire located at the top of the clip; guilloché “fluted” band on the cap
- Signature: Cap engraved with maker’s name at point of clip, classic “B” monogram on top of the cap
- Convertible to a mechanical pencil with rotative mechanism, accepts graphite leads Ø0.7mm
- Length: 14cm
- Accompaniments: Maker’s presentation box, guarantee card and set of 5 cartridges for ballpoint
Classique Roller Pen
The roller pen is the more formal accompaniment to the fountain pen because of its cap. At the same time it is the natural cousin to the ballpoint pen and a practical assistant for day-to-day use. Either in or out of the office. Both perform equally well and are a pleasure to write with. Ultimately it is a matter of personal preference when it comes to choosing between the two. The specifications are almost identical to the fountain pen, save for the monogrammed nib:
- Barrel/Screw-in Cap/Flexible Clip: Guilloché on sterling silver barrel and cap with “Breguet Blue” resin accents. A small blue sapphire located at the top of the clip; guilloché “fluted” bands on the cap and barrel
- Signature: Cap engraved with maker’s name at point of clip, classic “B” monogram on top of the cap
- Length: 14cm
- Accompaniments: Maker’s presentation box, guarantee card and set of 5 cartridges roller easy flow
Classique Pens Full Set
Purists will appreciate the availability of the full set of Classique pens. The full set comes in a generously-sized presentation box that includes all the accessories outline above. Ink pots and refills can be obtained from any official Breguet boutique. Additionally, the pens are designed and manufactured to meet global standards so that refills may be purchased from all reputable stationers. Specifications:
Full Set
- Fountain pen
- Roller pen
- Ballpoint pen / mechanical pencil
Accessories
- Black ink pot
- Set of 5 cartridges roller easy flow
- Set of 5 cartridges for ballpoint pen
- Mechanical Pencil, accepts graphite leads Ø0.7mm
- Leather case for three pens
- Lacquered wooden marquetry case
Classique Three-piece Diamond Set
The artisans at Breguet created an ultra-rare set of Classique pens adorned with baguette diamonds. These pens are the same as those featured in this article except for the following refinements:
- Top of cap paved with baguette diamonds, replacing the classic “B” monogram on top of the cap
- Two small blue sapphires set into the clip
- Flexible Clip paved with baguette diamonds
- Guilloché “fluted” bands on the cap and barrel paved with baguette diamonds
The Classique diamond-set pens are exceptional examples of haute joaillerie applied to Breguet’s writing instruments. Only a handful of sets were produced worldwide and the scarcity of these pens is equal to the most mysterious Grande Complications made by Breguet today.
The Art of Writing
Breguet’s pens are a celebration of the maison’s artisanship and a homage to handwriting at large. Few watchmakers make pens and in general accessories are often produced as an afterthought or to satisfy the demands of the marketing department. None of these exigencies plague Breguet’s writing instruments.
The Classique pens are complimented by the Reine de Naples pens in silver and Tradition pens in titanium. All three collections are thoughtful expressions of elegant writing instruments and effortlessly encompass conservative and modern styles to suit. Sophisticated workmanship incorporating watchmaking techniques ranging from traditional engine turning (hand-guilloché) and engraving to the use of precious stones, elevate Breguet’s pens to timeless artefacts.
Believe it or not, these pens are designed for actual use. Although rare and rarely seen, owners of these fabulous writing instruments are encouraged to enjoy using them as much as possible. In the digital era, writing by hand is a dying art.3 It is an unfortunate by-product of the need for speed: instant communication is no longer necessary but essential. It is impossible to turn back the hands of time, however, it is possible to slow down in this busy world and elicit that personal touch that comes with the art of writing. So take up your pen and celebrate not only your penmanship but the craft of writing, for nothing is as profound as the written word which is like the spoken word – eternal.
Acknowledgements
We would like to thank Breguet London and Mr Stuart Kerr, Boutique Manager, for giving us the opportunity to photograph and learn more about Breguet’s writing instruments.
Notes
All URLs correct at time of publication.
1 A fountain pen is a writing instrument with an ink reservoir that feeds a metal nib to apply water-based ink or special pigment to paper. There is no single inventor for the fountain pen but it is the proven successor to dip, reed and quill pens. Fountain pens appeared in Europe in the 17th century and in 1663 Samuel Pepys referred to a metal pen “to carry ink”. Various fountain pens were developed but it was not until 1828 that mass-manufactured nibs achieved a breakthrough thanks to Sir Josiah Mason of Birmingham, England. Mason became the largest producer of pens in England and by the 1850s, more than half the steel-nib pens manufactured in the world were made in Birmingham.
2 Loud obtained a patent for his ballpoint pen on 30th October 1888. The motivation was to create a pen capable of writing on rough and uneven surfaces, something quill pens and fountain pens could not. Unfortunately, Loud’s patent was not commercialised and would eventually lapse. The modern ballpoint pen would be patented later in 1938 by László Bíró, 22 years after Loud’s death.
3 Ewen Hosie brilliantly examines the position of handwriting in the Computer Age in the following article: The uncertain future of handwriting.
Bibliography
https://www.breguet.com/en/accessories/writing-instruments
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