The Breva Segreto di Lario And I Have A Secret

I often imagine myself pursuing a life of hedonism.

My go-to daydream is floating on the turquoise surface of lake Como in a wooden boat. I like to picture George and Amal Clooney as my guests every Sunday evening, sitting in the terracotta tiled living room of my villa listening to jazz. Perhaps there’s a bottle of Pinot Noir from Terre Lariane breathing in a glass decanter beside us. Perhaps, it’s fish from the lake for dinner. Sounds delightful, doesn’t it?

Before I awake from my dream, I imagine the watches George, Amal and I are wearing. Him, an Omega, naturally. Amal I feel would wear a Cartier Baignoire and on my wrist, something a little more exotic. A watch of the region, and one that speaks to the lake like I speak to the Clooneys — With adoration.

There’s really only one watch it could be. A watch from a brand that has just come back to life after its launch in 2010. My choice is the Segreto di Lario by Breva. The newly released Salmon (Sunset) dial would be my pick, to match the fresh fish on the table, of course.

It’s a decadent scene, and one that I know I have to leave eventually. Before I open my eyes, however, let me just finish my last sip of Pinot. I’ll be right with you…..

Ok, let’s talk about he Breva Segreto di Lario, Va bene?

Who Is Breva Geneve?

I hadn’t heard of Breva until recently. When I was sent the press release for their latest watch, I wondered how I had missed it. Their ethos is right up my alley. Born in 2010 in the Lake Como district, the brand got its name from the wind that blows through the region and was inspired by the natural Italian beauty that's prevalent in the area.
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The brand’s first watch, the Génie 01, was the first mechanical watch to be equipped with both a barometer and an altimeter. Why? To check the weather before you go out in your Riva Yacht for the day. Obviously. It’s a romantic complication and one that reminds me of Krayon, and Remi’s sunrise sunset indicator. It was designed to fit a lifestyle, even if that lifestyle applies to scarcely any people.

After the Génie, the brand lay dormant for years until being revived by its CEO, Julien Haenny. The rebirth brought with it a collection of watches that fit a more elegant wrist. The Génie was big at 44 mm, so there was no chance of it fitting under an unbuttoned linen shirt cuff, essential attire for Lake Como. The new Breva is less Rambo and more Danny Ocean, if you know what I mean.

“BREVA GENEVE is more than a brand. It is a celebration of the measuring instruments that once guided great explorers. Our instruments of time are a pursuit of exclusivity and exceptionality—offering today’s discerning collectors unique pieces infused with the spirit and boldness of adventurers past” Julien Haenny, CEO of BREVA GENEVE.

The Breva Segreto di Lario Is The Secret Of Lake Como

You know that hedonistic daydream I mentioned at the start of this article? It’s that exact life that comes to mind when I look at the Segreto di Lario (Secret of Lake Como). To understand this watch, you have to shift gears completely and embody the lifestyle it represents. This is a watch that prioritises decadence and pleasure over all else.

A Dial Reminiscent Of Vintage Instruments

The design language from the Génie 01 continues on the dial here, with a subtle nautical theme that would look right at home on the dash of a Riva Aquarama. At 12 sits a retrograde seconds hand, flicking back and forth along a circular satin finished track. There’s nothing more visually interesting than a retrograde seconds' indication. The visual drama it provides, to me, exceeds even that of a tourbillon. It just looks so damn cool.

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Two hands in the centre of the dial tell the time and are slightly curved towards their extremities. An intriguing design choice here is the open and closed circular counterweights on each hand. I initially thought this asymmetry would be difficult for my eyes to get used to, but the fact that the hands are two different tones pull it together well. Another nod to vintage weather focused instruments.

At six, perched upon a section adorned with vertical Geneva stripes are two intersecting power reserve hands that indicate a seven-day power reserve. On the left, six days are measured, and on the right, the last day. Not only does this configuration make the dial look like the gauges of a vintage Jaguar, but it also creates a sense of calm when reading.

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On the first few days of wearing, you see the left-hand fall and can enjoy the constant motion of the double barrels unwinding. As you reach the end of day six, no need to worry, our friend to the right will start to fall and mark each hour on the seventh. On a practical level, it’s useful to get a more granular readout for the last 24 hours. No tiny power reserve hand you have to squint at to see when winding is necessary. There’s also a theatrical element to these two hands, it’s as if the right hand says to the left, ‘rest now’ on the sixth day, ‘I’ll take it from here”.
We all need someone who can take the pressure off now and then.

Overall, the dial reminds me of an old barometric pressure gauge my grandparents had on the wall in their beach house in New Zealand. It’s comforting somehow, maybe because it reminds me of a time past, the ocean or when it had good news for the day ahead.

A Movement From The Mind of Jean-François Mojon

Based on the Chronode Calibre C101 and straight from the mind of master watchmaker Jean-François Mojon, the movement is balanced and special. The decoration on the two barrels stands out, with an engraved compass rose on one, and a blue filled engraving on the other. It at once feels fresh and traditional.

Along with the retrograde seconds complication, the power reserve required complex engineering to create and is proprietary to Breva. The mechanism is split into two kinematic chains, each operating a seperate cam which interacts with a rack and pinion lever to operate their respective hands. Twin balance springs maintain constant contact with this system to ensure smooth operation. It’s a complicated system that translates to a calming dial side experience. Just like a duck on water.

A Cushion For Comfort

The case is 41 mm, cushion shaped and comes in either grade 5 titanium or rose gold. For me, it’s just on the upper edge of wearability, but considering the size of the Calibre C101 it houses, I doubt it could have been any smaller. The finishing is just right, with enough brushing to assure you it’s a tool, and a sprinkling of polish to make you feel a little special when it catches the light.  

The only disappointment for me is the water resistance, at 50m it’s a little low for a watch that’s inspired by a body of water. With Lake Como being 425m at its deepest, you would rather not be dropping it over the side. I guess it’s more of a sun baking by the pool place than a wakeboarding and beers place anyway, so the risk of a watch overboard is low.

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There’s something special about being around water. Perhaps it’s the joy of being immersed in it, the sound of it lapping against the rocks or the smell it brings on the breeze. I can still smell the salt air blowing in as I sit on my grandparents' porch, watching the Barometer on their wall and waiting for it to tell me It’s time to swim. It’s a special memory.

I’ve never been to Lake Como, but If I close my eyes I can feel The Breva blowing in from the south, cooling my body as I stand on its rocky shores. I take a deep breath as the sun reflects off the beveled case of my Segreto di Lario. Glancing down at its dial, I see there’s no need to wind it yet. It whispers to me, ‘just relax’. So I do.

Pass me another glass of Pinot would you George? This can be our little secret of Lake Como.

Cya in the next one. x

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