If you were one of those fortunate enough to have handled their models at the time, there have been some of us who wondered, now and then, about the short life of the Breva brand, whose watches were impressive but also, quite niche.

Well there is no more wondering, because after almost a decade, they are back, under new management. The brand’s revival comes amidst a very different watch environment to that in which they originally launched. Two factors of note are that there are many more potential clients (those who like small independent brands) but at the same time, also a lot more small high-end brands competing for this same group of eyeballs and wrists.

Julien Haenny is the name leading the new Breva. Most recently at HYT but also with a history at Vulcain, Anonimo, TechnoMarine and General Manager of The Fine Watch Club, he is now a brand owner.

For this (re) launch model, there functional attributes that hark back to the original Breva, but the design aesthetics are quite different. The Segreto di Lario comes in an 18k rose gold cushion-shaped case measuring 41mm with a thickness of 11.1mm and water resistance of 50m and a circular satin-brushed crown with polished logo. There is a micro-blasted case band with polished lugs and a polished outer bezel.

Function-wise, we have the hour and minutes, a retrograde seconds, and a two-part seven-day power reserve. The dial has a vertically satin-brushed central dial with an angled perimeter, and a circular satin-brushed innter flange. The lower dial features rhodium-plated vertical Côtes de Genève. The polished hands are slightly curved, and the retrograde applique is rhodium-plated.

The front dial has a power reserve indicator that is read by a distinctive crossed hands – one hand tracks six days of power reserve (on the left), and the second hand tracks the final 24 hours of the total seven day power reserve (on the right).

Through the open case-back is a manually-wound movement based on the Chronode C101 calibre. Created by Jean-Francois Mojon of Chronode, it allows for altitude and weather forecasting. An important feature that is familiar from Breva Mk1 was a barometric pressure sensor that allows the wearer to monitor atmospheric pressure in real-time. It has two barrels and beats at 21,600 VPH. Finishing includes Côtes de Genève, rhodium-plated bridges, sand-blasted engravings, micro-blasting, and circular satin finishing.

Through the open case-back is a manually-wound movement based on the Chronode C101 calibre. Created by Jean-Francois Mojon of Chronode, it allows for altitude and weather forecasting. It has two barrels and beats at 21,600 VPH. Finishing includes Côtes de Genève, rhodium-plated bridges, sand-blasted engravings, micro-blasting, and circular satin finishing.

The new Breva Segreto di Lario comes on a blue alligator leather strap with titanium insert and an 18k rose gold pin buckle. In a limited edition of twenty-five pieces, the Segreto di Lario is available through Breva Genève’s official retailers and selected with an RRP of CHF 58,000 (excluding taxes). For more details go to their website.

[Photo credit: Breva]

Categories: Breva, Limited Editions, Watch Profile, watches, Women's watches