Breva - History, Models and Owners' Reviews

Breva, founded in 2010, is an independent Geneva-based house created by Vincent Dupontreué, known for environmental complications — altimeter, barometer, anemometer — and revived in 2025 with a new, more classical design chapter.

Mechanical barometer & altimeter: a wrist-borne “weather station”

Breva made its mark with the Génie 01, the first wristwatch to combine time, altimeter and a fully mechanical barometer, developed with Chronode (Jean-François Mojon); the architecture reveals pressure membranes and scales for intuitive reading. The core idea is real-time environmental measurement without electronics, relying on visible, didactic mechanics.

Altitude, air and wind: Génie 02 and Génie 03 take off

The lineage then offered a high-legibility altimeter and a pop-up anemometer for wind speed; each model pushes the “portable instrument” concept while remaining wearable day to day. Pick the tool by use case: pure altitude, or direct interaction with ambient air.

• Breva Génie 02 Terre — High-precision mechanical altimeter in titanium; scale up to ~5,000 m and pricing around USD 132,000.
• Breva Génie 02 Air — Aviation-oriented variant with the same display logic and measured water resistance.
• Breva Génie 03 — “Speedmeter” with retractable cup anemometer for on-wrist wind-speed reading.

Segreto di Lario (2025): revival with a double retrograde power reserve

After a quiet spell, Breva returned in 2025 with the Breva Segreto di Lario: a 41 mm cushion-case in pink gold, limited to 25 pieces, priced at CHF 58,000 before tax, and powered by a Chronode-developed movement featuring retrograde seconds and a twin retrograde power-reserve display (7 days). This comeback preserves the brand’s inventive spirit while adopting a more classical, readable expression.

Positioning, pricing and reach

Breva sits in the independent high-end segment; Génie 02 models were around USD 132,000 in titanium, while the Segreto di Lario opens the new chapter at CHF 58,000 before tax; volumes are undisclosed and distribution mixes direct sales with selected retailers. The target buyer seeks credible “field” complications or a characterful piece anchored in explicit mechanics.

Conclusion

Breva is for those who want a watch recognized at a glance for mechanical instruments — from barometer to anemometer — or for an original display wrapped in a more classical package. Explorers will gravitate to the Génie 02/03 for their instrumental nature, while the Segreto di Lario will appeal to dressier tastes that still value technical character. Your choice hinges on intended environment (mountains, air, city) and preference for overt technicality versus restraint. To ground your decision in real-world ownership, rely on Dialicious customer reviews before purchasing.

(Updated August 2025)