October DealsAmazon USOctober deal check: compare before you payAmazon US: current deals, useful picks and tech finds.Check DealsClean PCRecommendedOne scan can reveal what keeps slowing WindowsLook for cleanup and repair opportunities.Run ScanOctober DealsAmazon USDeal season is back - check today's better picksAmazon US: current deals, useful picks and tech finds.See Picks×
Skip to content
WatchRanker
Search
For vendors
Blog

Breguet No. 1160: The Marie-Antoinette Pocket Watch Recreated

Breguet No. 1160 is a 2008 recreation of the historic No. 160—not the original watch associated with Marie-Antoinette. Here are their histories, complications, and key differences.
Estimate4–5 min Catalogued SpecialistWatchRanker Team

What’s actually slowing this PC down?

Pick the symptom - the matching free tool is one click away.

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.

Breguet No. 1160 is a 2008 recreation of the historic No. 160 pocket watch known as the Marie-Antoinette watch—not the original. The original was commissioned in 1783 as a gift for the Queen but was completed only in 1827, decades after her death. No. 1160 drew on archival drawings and historical research to recreate the watch’s design and complications.

Two watches, two different histories

Watch What it is Key dates
Breguet No. 160 The historic pocket watch associated with Marie-Antoinette. Commissioned in 1783; completed in 1827; stolen in 1983 and recovered in December 2007, according to Breguet.
Breguet No. 1160 A modern recreation, also described by Breguet as a re-edition. Presented in 2008, following archival research and reconstruction.

The distinction matters: the Queen did not commission or receive the completed No. 160. Breguet says an unnamed officer of the Queen’s Guards ordered it as a gift for her. The watch was finished 34 years after her death and four years after Abraham-Louis Breguet died. Breguet’s account of the No. 160 commission and its history of the No. 1160 recreation establish those identities and dates.

How the original No. 160 came about

Breguet recounts that Marie-Antoinette admired the maker’s watches. In 1783, an unnamed officer of her Guards ordered a watch for her, specifying the fullest range of watchmaking refinements and complications then known. The commission account set no time or monetary limit. It does not establish that the Queen saw the watch or that it was delivered to her.

That order became No. 160, but completion took decades. Breguet dates its completion to 1827. Its long construction period is part of the watch’s history, but it should not be confused with the later reconstruction of No. 1160.

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.
#1 Best Overall
LYMFHCH Vintage Pocket Watch Roman Numerals Scale Quartz Pocket Watches with Chain Christmas Graduation Birthday Gifts Fathers Day
  • Due to poor shooting, the pocket watch itself is more refined than the picture, the perfect pocket watch! Classic pocket watch: roman numerals scale, very special; Heavily engraved front and back with exquisite patterns, vintage appearance design, really good as a fashion accessory
  • Detachable chain: the package includes a pocket watch and a gold necklace chain with hook; The removable chain is easy to assemble and disassemble Way to open: the quartz pocket watch is simply designed; You can press the crown at the top of watch, and the front plate will be opened Setting time: pull the crown away from the watch base and turn the crown clockwise until reaching the exact time
  • Size: this pocket watch diameter is approximately 4.6 cm/ 1.8 inches, small size for easy carry; The chain is 37 cm/ 14.57 inches in length, long enough to secure the pocket watch easily
  • Silver Classic Roman Case, Black dial with filigreed hour, minute, and second hands.
  • Antique gift: the Roman numeral watch comes with a gift box , functioning as a delicate gift for relatives, great Christmas/ Graduation gift/ Birthday/ Anniversary Day/ Fathers Day gifts,friends, teachers and more

Theft, recovery, and what is established

Breguet reports that the original No. 160 was stolen from a museum in Jerusalem in 1983 and recovered in December 2007. A Swatch Group account dated 10 April 2008 said the recovered watch had not yet been inspected by Montres Breguet at that time. That is a historical status report, not evidence of the watch’s present condition, custody, location, or display status.

Why Breguet made No. 1160

In 2004, Nicolas G. Hayek challenged Breguet’s watchmakers to make an exact replica. The recreation drew on technical drawings in the Breguet Museum archives and material at the Musée des Arts et Métiers in Paris. Breguet also says that comparing period watches helped the team recover knowledge of workshop techniques.

Rank #2
Sale
LYMFHCH Vintage Quartz Pocket Watch with Chain
  • 【 VINTAGE AESTHETIC 】 Features a classic antique bronze finish with a transparent acrylic face. Elegant Roman numerals adorn both the outer bezel and inner dial, creating a timeless, distinguished look that pairs perfectly with suits, vests, and steampunk attire.
  • 【 DURABLE & SAFE ACRYLIC 】 Say goodbye to fragile glass. The watch is built with high-strength acrylic for both the inner and outer lenses. This material is impact-resistant and shatterproof, making it a safer and more durable choice for everyday pocket watch use.
  • 【 COMPACT & PORTABLE 】 Measuring approximately 4.6 cm (1.8 inches) in diameter, this pocket watch is perfectly sized for easy carrying. It won’t weigh down your pocket or bag, making it ideal for daily commutes or travel.
  • 【 COMPLETE WITH CHAIN 】 Includes a matching 37 cm (14.5 inches) bronze-tone chain. The length is specifically designed to securely attach the watch to vest buttons, belt loops, or handbags, preventing loss while keeping it easily accessible.
  • DUAL NUMERAL DISPLAY: The dial showcases Roman numerals alongside minute markers, offering a distinguished and easy-to-read classic look.

The duration is described inconsistently on Breguet’s own page: its headline refers to three years of intensive work, while the body describes four years of research and reconstruction. The central point is that No. 1160 was built from historical documentation and comparison—not simply presented as the original No. 160 returned to use.

What the No. 1160 recreation can do

Breguet describes No. 1160 as a self-winding watch, using “perpétuelle,” a period term, for that winding system. Its documented functions include:

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.
Rank #3
LYMFHCH Smooth Vintage Pocket Watch with Chain Arabic Numerals Scale
  • Detachable chain: the package includes a pocket watch and a Black necklace chain with hook; The removable chain is easy to assemble and disassemble
  • Way to open: the quartz pocket watch is simply designed; You can press the crown at the top of watch, and the front plate will be opened Setting time: pull the crown away from the watch base and turn the crown clockwise until reaching the exact time
  • Size: this pocket watch diameter is approximately 4.6 cm/ 1.8 inches, small size for easy carry; The chain is 37 cm/ 14.57 inches in length, long enough to secure the pocket watch easily
  • Black Classic Smooth case,White dial with filigreed hour, minute, and second hands.
  • Antique gift: the Arabic Numerals watch comes with a gift box , functioning as a delicate gift for relatives, great Christmas/ Birthday/ Anniversary Day/ Fathers Day gifts,friends, teachers and more
  • A minute repeater that sounds hours, quarters, and minutes on demand.
  • A perpetual calendar.
  • An equation-of-time display comparing civil time with solar time.
  • Jumping hours, central minutes, and an independent seconds hand, alongside small seconds.
  • A 48-hour power-reserve indicator.
  • A bimetallic thermometer.

These are specifications of the recreation; they should not automatically be attributed to the historic No. 160. Breguet reports that No. 1160’s self-winding movement has 823 components. Its account also describes pink-gold plates, bridges, bars, and moving parts; blued, polished steel screws; sapphire-fitted friction points and bearings; a natural-lift escapement; a gold cylindrical balance spring; a bimetallic balance; and a double pare-chute shock-protection device.

Swatch Group’s 10 April 2008 account gives the recreation a 63 mm gold case and rock-crystal glasses for the dial and case. It says the yellow-gold alloy was specially cast with a more coppery hue to evoke the period. Those figures and material descriptions concern No. 1160, not a general specification for the original.

Rank #4
Pangda Vintage Pocket Watch Steel Men Watch with Chain for Fathers Day Xmas Present Daily Use, Gold, Classic
  • Apperance: our flower pocket watch case with white Roman numeral dial, looks elegant and stylish
  • Classic design: the quartz pocket watch features Roman numerals scale, suitable for serving as Christmas presents, birthday presents, etc
  • Size (approx.): the pocket watch diameter is 4.6 cm/ 1.8 inch, portable; And the chain length is 37 cm/ 14.57 inch, helpful to secure the pocket watch easily
  • Way to use and set time: press the watch top's crown, front plate will open, then pull the crown away from the base of the watch and turn the crown clockwise until reaching the exact time; The battery can be replaced by prying off the back cover with a small notch on the side
  • Antique present: the classic roman pocket watch comes with a present box, functioning as a delicate present for relatives, friends, teachers and more
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Support on Ko-Fi

Reconstructing the design—and the presentation case

Breguet says the original drawings and material from the Musée des Arts et Métiers provided guidance for reconstructing the watch’s functions and styling. The brand’s explanation is an account of its own process, rather than an independent audit of how closely every detail matches the original.

The recreation’s presentation box was carved from wood Breguet identifies as coming from a Versailles oak associated with the Queen. Swatch Group reported in 2008 that the box comprised more than 3,500 sculpted pieces and included more than 1,000 pieces of inlay depicting the Queen holding a rose. Those counts are the group’s reported figures for the presentation case, not specifications of the watch itself.

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.

What the legend means—and what it does not

No. 160’s legend rests on its extraordinary commission, its completion long after the intended recipient’s death, and its theft and recovery. No. 1160 gives that history a modern counterpart: a complex recreation made from archival evidence and presented in 2008. The two share a design lineage, but they remain separate watches with distinct dates and documented histories.

The available accounts establish the original’s recovery in 2007, but do not establish its current condition, location, or public display status. They also do not establish a current valuation, sale price, production quantity, or market availability for No. 1160.

Quick Recap

Bestseller No. 1
LYMFHCH Vintage Pocket Watch Roman Numerals Scale Quartz Pocket Watches with Chain Christmas Graduation Birthday Gifts Fathers Day
LYMFHCH Vintage Pocket Watch Roman Numerals Scale Quartz Pocket Watches with Chain Christmas Graduation Birthday Gifts Fathers Day
Silver Classic Roman Case, Black dial with filigreed hour, minute, and second hands.
$11.99
Bestseller No. 3
LYMFHCH Smooth Vintage Pocket Watch with Chain Arabic Numerals Scale
LYMFHCH Smooth Vintage Pocket Watch with Chain Arabic Numerals Scale
Black Classic Smooth case,White dial with filigreed hour, minute, and second hands.
$8.99

Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.

More lots from the Journal

  1. Lot1How to Best Sell Your Watch: Choose the Right Channel for Your GoalBlogEstimate 7–9 min
  2. Lot2Spring-Bars and NATOs: A Practical Guide to Watch Straps, Buckles and BarsBlogEstimate 6–8 min
  3. Lot3A Philosophical Guide to Building the Perfect Watch CollectionBlogEstimate 6–8 min
Recommended PC Tool
Recommended PC Tool
Windows Errors? Fix Them Before They SpreadFree repair scan
Crashes, No Sound, or Screen Glitches?Free driver scan

Two free Windows tools

One Free Minute Could Fix That PC

Before you go - each of these free tools takes about a minute and tackles what quietly slows a Windows PC down.

Special offer. View Outbyte info, uninstall instructions, EULA, and Privacy Policy.