Abraham-Louis Breguet. Portrait of Abraham-Louis Breguet (1747-1823), Swiss clock pioneer. Born in Switzerland, Breguet was apprenticed in Paris, France. In 1775 he set up his own workshop and gained a reputation for making beautiful and innovative timepieces including his perpetuelle, a self-winding watch. Breguet improved the appearance, functionality, durability and accuracy of timepieces. Innovations of his included spring- loaded bearings for shock absorption, a reliable, flat watch spring and a tourbillon system to compensate for the angle at which the watch was held. By the time of his death Breguet was the most famous watchmaker in Europe.