📅 Monday, August 31, 2026
Long before wristwatches became standard for men during World War I, Abraham-Louis Breguet crafted what is widely considered the first known wristwatch in history for Caroline Murat, the Queen of Naples, in 1810. This extraordinary timepiece was an oval-shaped complication featuring a repeating movement and a thermometer, mounted on a sophisticated hair-and-gold thread bracelet. It took over two years to create, redefining timepieces as exquisite wearable jewelry for women decades before men adopted the style.
Long before wristwatches became commonplace—and nearly a century before they became standard equipment for men—Caroline Murat, Queen of Naples and younger sister of Napoleon Bonaparte, commissioned Abraham-Louis Breguet to create a watch specifically designed to be worn on the wrist. The order was entered into Breguet’s records on June 8, 1810, making Breguet No. 2639 what the manufacture describes as the first known wristwatch in history. Montres Breguet
The surviving commission book is wonderfully specific. Caroline ordered a repeating watch for a bracelet at a price of 5,000 francs. Breguet’s manufacturing records describe the resulting creation as an exceptionally thin repeating watch with complications, with an oblong/oval form and a thermometer, mounted on a wristlet made from hair intertwined with gold thread. This wasn’t simply a pocket watch attached to a strap—it was conceived specifically for the wrist. Montres Breguet
And it wasn’t an overnight project. The watch was commissioned in 1810, paid for in 1811 and finally delivered in 1812. That timeline is more precise than saying simply that Breguet “made it in 1810”: 1810 marks the commission and beginning of the story, while 1812 marks the delivery of the completed watch. Montres Breguet
Caroline Murat was no casual customer, either. Between 1808 and 1814, Breguet records that she purchased 34 clocks and watches, making her one of Abraham-Louis Breguet’s most important patrons. Yet No. 2639 was something altogether different. At a time when watches were overwhelmingly carried rather than worn on the wrist, Breguet was effectively treating the wrist itself as part of the design problem—combining complicated watchmaking with jewelry and wearable ergonomics. Montres Breguet
Here’s where the story earns the word “Mystery.” The original watch is no longer known to survive, and Breguet’s archives contain no surviving sketch of its exterior. Important details—including its exact dimensions, dial configuration, bracelet shape and fastening system—remain unknown. What we know comes largely from Breguet’s meticulous commission, manufacturing and later service records. Montres Breguet
And remarkably, the paper trail doesn’t end in 1812. On March 8, 1849, Breguet No. 2639 resurfaced in the company’s repair register when Countess Louise Rasponi—Caroline Murat’s daughter—brought the watch in for repair. That later service record helped preserve evidence of a watch whose physical whereabouts would ultimately become a mystery. Montres Breguet
⭐ Why It Matters
There’s a wonderful reversal of conventional watch history here. The wristwatch wasn’t originally established as a masculine tool that was later adapted for women. One of the earliest—and according to Breguet’s archives, the first known watch specifically conceived for the wrist—was created for a woman more than a century before the wristwatch became the dominant way people wore time.
Category: Watch History
Disclaimer: Every effort has been made to keep these watch facts accurate, but the world of horology is full of myths, disputed stories, and fascinating trivia. Consider these facts a starting point for discovery rather than the final word. If you have corrections or additional insights, let us know—we’re always happy to keep the record ticking in the right direction.
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