The watchmaking House definitively leaves the hands of the Breguet family in 1870, a couple of months before the Franco-German war and the fall of the Second French Empire. This political instability has a direct effect on the Parisian business and Breguet is disheartened to observe sales falling. We have to wait until 1900-1914 and the Belle Epoque to reverse this downturn and to see again an evolution of the demand.
Breguet is the oldest watchmaker on Place Vendôme. The store was based at number 28 in the direction of Rue de la Paix in the years from 1933 to 1970, then moved to number 10, then number 7, then on to number 20 on the opposite corner, before settling down at number 6, its current location. It moved around this square, which, before being baptized Vendôme in the eighteenth century, saw a succession of different names that included Place des Conquêtes and Place des Piques.
Breguet watch no. 3638. Chronograph sold on 13 January 1937. Unique yellow gold gentleman's wristwatch with white enamel dial, single button chronograph, register, tachometer and yellow gold buckle. Breguet blued steel hands. Movement with Breguet balance-spring. Diameter 35 mm.
