Gregory Kissling, Breguet’s New CEO, on his Vision and the 250th Anniversary

A microtechnology engineer with an MBA and a Master’s degree in Luxury Management, Gregory Kissling was appointed a few months ago as the head of one of the most prestigious names in Haute Horlogerie: Breguet. A visit to the Vallée de Joux gave us the opportunity to sit down with him to discuss his career and the future of a brand that is about to celebrate its 250th anniversary.

Xavier Markl, MONOCHROME – Gregory, thanks for having us. How did you get into the watchmaking industry, and what was the path that led you to become CEO of Breguet?

Gregory Kissling, CEO of Breguet – I’m originally from Neuchâtel, which certainly makes it easier to enter this wonderful watchmaking industry. I’ve always been drawn to technology, so I attended engineering school in Le Locle, where several specialities are taught, including microtechnology. That’s how I first got hooked on watchmaking.

Even though I was initially interested in robotics, I quickly found myself returning to watchmaking – first at Cartier as a movement constructor, then at Omega, where I spent over 20 years working not only on movements but also on the habillage (note: the external, non-movement components of a watch).

When you’re into watches, you inevitably study Breguet, his story, his inventions. He is the father of modern horology. At Omega, I had the chance to meet George Daniels as we were developing the co-axial escapement (note: you can see Gregory explaining this escapement in the video). Daniels was a huge admirer of Breguet and wrote a fantastic book about him. Breguet was a major source of inspiration for Daniels – and through him, for me too.

I’ve always been fascinated by Breguet’s unique ability to blend tradition, modernity, and technology. Take the magnetic pivot, for instance. Chronometry has always been essential to Breguet, and the magnetic pivot perfectly illustrates that. The same goes for the use of silicon, which Breguet pioneered.

You obviously had great knowledge of Breguet already, but what surprised you after joining the brand?

During my time at Omega, I had the opportunity to interact with colleagues from Breguet through various Swatch Group transversal projects. The Group is like a big family, it’s not just brands and manufactures. So I already knew some of the people at Breguet before arriving. Still, what truly surprised me was the depth of know-how and the incredible talent within the company – watchmakers, craftsmen, lab technicians, R&D teams, designers…

Breguet is a truly verticalized manufacture, with expertise across every discipline. But beyond the facilities, machinery, and tools, it’s the people behind them that impressed me most. The human element is at the heart of Breguet.

Then there’s the exceptional heritage. Of course, there are books, but the brand’s patrimony is truly unique. We’ve managed to carefully preserve it – not only the physical heritage, with nearly 400 historical watches in our collection, but also the intangible, through detailed archives and documents. We’re lucky to have Emmanuel Breguet, a seventh-generation descendant of the founder, whose knowledge is invaluable. We don’t replicate the past, we use it as a source of inspiration.

Indeed, Breguet is a very verticalized manufacture. But as we’ve discussed, you are also part of a group. What does that mean for the brand?

It’s a real asset for Breguet to be part of a group with such an exceptional level of vertical integration. We can produce our own lubricants through Moebius, make our own regulating organs, master hard materials, and even develop and industrialise new alloys. These are strategic resources, particularly when it comes to fostering innovation, which lies at the very core of Breguet’s DNA.

What do you hope to bring to Breguet watches?

The idea is to build on what has already been done, from the time of Abraham-Louis Breguet to the present day, always with an eye toward innovation. But not innovation for its own sake – rather, innovation that brings value to our clients.

Our current collection is structured around distinct product families, each representing a different chapter of Breguet’s story. The Type XX and its ties to aviation, the Marine range – Breguet was appointed official watchmaker to the French Royal Navy by King Louis XVIII in 1815 – the Classique, the Tradition, and the Reine de Naples… These are powerful collections, and each must continue to evolve.

Breguet is also a fully integrated manufacture, capable of designing, developing, and producing its own movements. That’s a tremendous asset. Having the ability to work on both the movement and the habillage, and to bring true innovation to both, is a real privilege.

What are the main challenges for the brand?

Our first challenge is to ensure that Breguet retains its rightful place. At the same time, we need to remain relevant to a new generation of clients. People who are already familiar with Breguet understand its importance, but we also want to reach those who may not yet be aware of the brand’s incredible heritage.

In 2025, we’ll be celebrating our 250th anniversary. It’s the perfect opportunity to communicate this message. We’ve begun with our history, and we’ll soon highlight our inventions. We’ll be presenting new products in different cities each month. The anniversary collection is based on our current offering, but it also draws inspiration from Breguet’s many innovations. We’ll wrap up the year with a special surprise in Versailles, a city deeply connected to the Breguet legacy.

And finally, if you had to choose one Breguet watch?

One that doesn’t exist yet!