Indie Brand Breva Genève is back, with the new Segreto di Lario

Swiss brand Breva Genève was founded in 2010 by Vincent Dupontreué. At one point, the brand garnered quite a bit of attention on the independent watchmaking scene with a series of original but niche complications such as a barometer, an altimeter or even a retractable speedometer! For multiple reasons, the brand unfortunately disappeared for a few years. But in 2025, the independent watchmaking brand is now resurrected by Julien Haenny – Ex-HYT, The Fine Watch Club, Anonimo, Vulcain, Jaeger-Lecoultre and TechnoMarine. And here’s what to expect from the new version of Breva Genève, an elegant watch with an original power reserve display named the Segreto di Lario. 

The first collection for the brand’s second chapter and the inaugural model of this resurrection is named “Segreto di Lario” – Secret of Lake Como in Italian. If this poetic name sounds a bit cryptic, it does make sense, knowing that the name Breva itself comes from the breeze that blows over Lake Como. From a design perspective, the Segreto di Lario marks quite a departure from the bold 2010s Genie series. It indeed comes in an elegant 41mm cushion-shape case in 18l pink gold. It still feels creative, and it still displays its inner workings, but it feels more anchored in classic haute horlogerie, and now has reasonable proportions, including a fair thickness of 11mm.

The Breva Segreto di Lario stands out with its original display with central hours and minutes, a retrograde seconds at 12 o’clock and a double retrograde power reserve indication in the lower part of the dial. It remains a creative functionality/display, as we have always seen with Breva, although a more pragmatic one in my opinion (complications in the vein of the 2010s Breva are, however, to be expected in the near future.

This power reserve indication is displayed by two retrograde hands – a first hand displays the first 6 days while the final 24 hours are displayed by a second one. This visually appealing solution allows for improved legibility for the final 24 hours – even if you don’t necessarily utmost procession to check the remaining power reserve. As a rule, it is advisable not to wait for the very end of the power reserve before winding your watch. Indeed, as the mainspring unwinds, it tends to deliver less consistent power and torque to the regulator. Watches generally perform best when the mainspring is in its middle or higher range of tension.

“We developed an exclusive power reserve display for Breva Genève that consists of a double retrograde time scale: one for the total 6-day power reserve duration, and on the opposite side, a display for the remaining 24 hours. The power reserve indication from the base movement is split into two kinematic chains, each carrying a dedicated cam. Two rake feelers, one per cam, transmit the information to each hand, and two hairsprings maintain tension to ensure constant contact between the cam and feeler. This original 7-day power reserve reading is both intuitive and precise,” explains Jean-François Mojon (Chronode), who created the movement for Breva.

Indeed, this movement is clearly publicised as a joint creation with movement maker Chronode (also behind the conception of the first Genie models), and is derived from the company’s twin-barrel calibre with its 3Hz frequency and lengthy 7-day power reserve – an identical architecture can be seen, for instance, at Czapek or Fleming. Elegantly finished, it is visible through the watch exhibition caseback, and it emphasizes traditional techniques with vertical Geneva stripes and a wind rose engraved on one of the barrels.

The Breva Segreto di Lario is worn on an alligator leather strap closed by a pin buckle. It is released in a limited edition of 25 pieces. The price is set at CHF 58,000, excluding taxes. For more information, please visit www.breva-watches.com.