There’s something deeply romantic about a watch that was born from a queen’s commission. When Abraham-Louis Breguet created a timepiece for Caroline Murat, Queen of Naples and Napoleon’s sister, back in 1810, he couldn’t have known he was laying the foundation for one of watchmaking’s most enduring icons. Now, 215 years after that historic creation—and 250 years since Breguet himself founded his maison—the brand has unveiled two exceptional new iterations that honor both that royal legacy and the brand’s quarter-millennium of horological excellence. Let me tell you, the Breguet Reine de Naples references 9935 and 8925 are nothing short of spectacular.
A Golden Anniversary Deserves Golden Innovation
What strikes me first about these new releases isn’t just their beauty, though they are breathtaking; it’s the material innovation Breguet has introduced specifically for this anniversary. For the first time in the Reine de Naples collection’s history, both the 9935 and 8925 are crafted in “Breguet Gold,” a proprietary rose gold alloy composed of gold, silver, copper, and palladium. This isn’t just marketing speak; it’s a specially forged material created exclusively for the 250th anniversary celebrations, giving these timepieces a warm, distinctive glow that sets them apart from anything else in the collection.
The timing couldn’t be more perfect. In an era when many heritage brands are looking backward for inspiration, Breguet is simultaneously honoring its past while pushing forward with material science and design innovation. It’s this balance—reverence without stagnation—that makes the Breguet Reine de Naples references 9935 and 8925 feel both timeless and thoroughly contemporary.
Reference 9935: When the Moon Takes Center Stage
Let’s start with the 9935, the moon phase model that represents perhaps the most significant design evolution in the collection’s recent history. Measuring 36.5mm x 28.5mm with a thickness of just 10.3mm, it sits on the wrist with that perfect proportion that defines great women’s watchmaking—substantial enough to make a statement, elegant enough to slip under a cuff when needed.
But here’s where things get really interesting: Breguet has made a bold decision to remove the power reserve indicator that traditionally appeared on Reine de Naples moon phase models. Now, before you gasp in horror at the loss of a complication, let me explain why this is actually brilliant. By eliminating the power reserve display, Breguet has freed up precious dial real estate, allowing the moon phase to take on a larger, more prominent role. The result? A moon phase display that appears almost suspended at 12 o’clock, floating above the dial in a presentation that feels more poetic than technical.
The dial execution across the four available versions of the 9935 showcases Breguet’s commitment to artisanal craft. The star of the show, in my opinion, is the blue aventurine glass version layered over Tahitian mother-of-pearl. This two-level construction creates an interplay of light and depth that changes as you move your wrist—it’s like wearing a miniature night sky. There’s also a white mother-of-pearl version with pear-cut diamonds at the hour markers, a standard mother-of-pearl option, and for those who believe more is more, a full pavé version featuring an absolutely staggering 1,388 diamonds, including gems set on the bracelet “pearls.”
Speaking of diamonds, the 9935 doesn’t hold back. The bezel and flange are set with 109 brilliant-cut diamonds, while the central lug at 6 o’clock features 52 diamonds in a snow setting, and even the crown gets a briolette-cut diamond for good measure. But what really captures my attention is a detail that might seem small but represents a first for the collection: six pear-shaped diamonds set between the applied gold Breguet Arabic numerals. It’s details like these that separate haute horlogerie from merely expensive watches.
The technical specifications are equally impressive. The self-winding calibre 537L2 features 225 components and 28 jewels, measures 30.5 x 22.4mm with a thickness of just 5mm, and offers a 45-hour power reserve while vibrating at 3.5 Hz. The flat silicon balance spring provides resistance to both temperature variations and magnetic fields—crucial for a watch that’s meant to be worn daily. And in a lovely touch, the 950 platinum oscillating weight is hand-guilloché with the new Petit Trianon motif, visible through the sapphire caseback that’s engraved with “BREGUET 250 YEARS.”
The pricing for the 9935 ranges from EUR 56,900 to EUR 100,300 depending on the version you choose—a significant investment, certainly, but one that buys you not just a watch but a piece of horological history.
Reference 8925: The Everyday Jewel
If the 9935 is the showstopper, the 8925 is its more discreet—but no less impressive—sibling. This time-only model measures a delicate 33mm x 25mm with a thickness of just 8.5mm, making it one of those rare modern watches that truly feels designed for a woman’s wrist rather than scaled down from a men’s model.
What I love about the Breguet Reine de Naples reference 8925 is how it delivers on being a watch that combines jewelry and timekeeping, yet is wearable in everyday life. The 8925 comes exclusively fitted with a new Breguet Gold bracelet—and this isn’t just any bracelet. The articulated construction integrates seamlessly into the oval case silhouette with an invisible clasp that maintains the aesthetic flow from case to bracelet without interruption. It’s a piece of jewelry that happens to tell time, rather than a watch that’s been decorated.
The diamond setting on the 8925 has been refined from previous models, with 207 diamonds total, including 41 on the bezel (increased from 37 in earlier versions). There’s a drop-cut diamond positioned at 12 o’clock and 46 diamonds adorning the hour ring. The hand-guilloché “Quai de l’Horloge” pattern in the dial center provides texture and visual interest without overwhelming the composition.
Three dial variations are available: guilloché and sunburst Breguet Gold, white mother-of-pearl, and my personal favorite, Breguet Gold with black aventurine glass. That last option offers a dramatic contrast that would transition beautifully from day to evening wear.
The self-winding calibre 586/1 inside is appropriately slim at just 3.9mm thick with a 15.3mm diameter. It features 180 components, 29 jewels, vibrates at 3 Hz, and offers a 38-hour power reserve. The rotor is decorated with the hand-guilloché Petit Trianon motif, maintaining the artisanal aesthetic throughout. The pricing for the 8925 ranges from EUR 81,300 to EUR 84,800.
Why I Love These Releases
Here’s what I think makes the Breguet Reine de Naples references 9935 and 8925 significant beyond their obvious beauty and technical prowess: they represent a brand that understands its heritage without being imprisoned by it. The decision to remove the power reserve indicator from the 9935 could have been controversial, but instead it feels like liberation—prioritizing poetry over technical one-upmanship. The creation of Breguet Gold specifically for the anniversary shows a willingness to innovate even in traditional materials. And the 8925’s jewelry bracelet addresses a real need in the luxury watch market: pieces that can truly transition from professional to personal life without feeling either too casual or too precious.
Both models come with special touches befitting the 250th anniversary, including the red leather case for the 9935 and the anniversary engravings on the casebacks. These aren’t just new references in an existing collection; they’re commemorative pieces that happen to be supremely wearable.
The Verdict
Standing back and looking at the Breguet Reine de Naples references 9935 and 8925 as a whole, what impresses me most is how they manage to be both exceptional and accessible—exceptional in their craft and innovation, accessible in their wearability and design philosophy. These aren’t trophy watches meant to live in safes; they’re meant to be worn, enjoyed, and passed down.
At a time when women’s watches are finally getting the serious horological attention they deserve, Breguet has delivered two models that refuse to compromise. They’re feminine without being frivolous, jeweled without being merely decorative, and technically accomplished without being showy about it. That’s a difficult balance to strike, and the Breguet Reine de Naples references 9935 and 8925 nail it perfectly.
For a brand celebrating 250 years, these releases feel less like a victory lap and more like a promise: the next 250 years will be just as innovative, just as beautiful, and just as committed to the art of fine watchmaking. And if that’s the case, we’re all very lucky indeed.
Featured images: Breguet
Amanda Akalonu is dedicated to weaving together the worlds of jewelry, watches, and objects through a lens of literary storytelling.
