If you had asked me before Greg Kissling took over as CEO of Breguet whether one individual could reposition this storied maison at the pinnacle of high watchmaking — capturing the essence of its legendary creativity in just one year — I would have said this task was near impossible. And I would have been completely wrong.

Gregory Kissling

It was around this time a year ago that Kissling unveiled the very first step in his strategy to re-elevate Breguet and reconnect it with its roots as the most innovative watch brand in history. He did this with a watch that was wonderfully executed and poetically apt — Breguet’s new interpretation of its one-handed timepiece, the Souscription. Derived from A.-L. Breguet’s montres à tact, or “tactile watches,” the timepieces he developed for wearers to tell the time discreetly in social settings, the Souscription distilled Breguet to its very essence. But it was Kissling’s sensitivity to detail, coupled with his keen understanding for prevailing contemporary tastes, that made the new Souscription a hit.

Breguet 250th Anniversary Souscription (©Revolution)

First, it was made of an all-new alloy called Breguet gold that faithfully echoed the hue of the brand’s historic timepieces. Its dial was majestic grand feu enamel with a hidden Breguet signature, etched with an original Breguet tool acquired from the estate of English watchmaker George Daniels. The beautifully executed movement placed the barrel dead center as with the original pocket watches. But more than that, Kissling understood the Souscription’s significance: it was the watch that A.-L. Breguet created to rebuild his empire after the French Revolution. Sold on a subscription basis — with customers paying a quarter of the cost upon placing their orders — it generated positive cash flow for Breguet to fuel his renaissance and subsequent inventions such as the Sympathique clock, the natural escapement and the legendary tourbillon.

The inscription, which includes the unique serial number, is discreetly executed, only revealing itself at certain angles (©Revolution)

The VS00 is reminiscent of the vintage original in many ways – from its symmetrical architecture to its gilded tones – but it’s also packed with modern technology, including a patented, non-magnetic Nivachron alloy hairspring (©Revolution)

In an echo Breguet’s historic revival, just months after the launch of the modern Souscription, Kissling was on the stage of the Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève, receiving the industry’s top prize — the Aiguille d’Or — for this extraordinary timepiece. His guidance of the modern Breguet brand culminated in the launch of the epic Expérimentale 1 in December 2025, the very first timepiece equipped with a high-frequency tourbillon featuring a magnetic constant-force escapement.

Breguet Expérimentale 1

Kissling’s spearheading of cutting-edge technology in Breguet evokes the kind of horological daring that A.-L. Breguet himself would pursue, were he alive today. That he achieved all this — including the relaunch of a truly stunning Type XX Chronographe — speaks not only to his Herculean effort, but also to his superhuman dedication, technical brilliance and ability to rally and inspire his team, qualities that make him our 2025 Revolutionary of the Year.