FHH | Boucheron Reflet: Timeless Elegance since 1947

Boucheron. Boucheron. Boucheron. Boucheron. Boucheron. Boucheron

Reflet. Reflet. Reflet. Reflet. Reflet

The Reflet watch bears the engraved motto "Je ne Sonne que les Heures Heureuses" on the caseback.

Launch Year

1947

Functions

hours, minutes

Movement

quartz

Distinctive features

21 x 35.5mm Medium case in steel, sapphire cabochon on the crown, secret signature on the sapphire crystal, motto engraved on the caseback, interchangeable strap.

Boucheron was founded in 1858 when jeweller Frédéric Boucheron opened his first boutique in the arcades of the Palais Royal in Paris. From the very beginning, watches were among the creations proposed. Frédéric adopted the motto "Je ne Sonne que les Heures Heureuses" [I strike only happy hours], a translation of the Latin inscription "Horas non numero nisi serenas" on the base of the sundial invented by the watchmaker Rousseau so that watches and clocks could be adjusted at noon. It sat in the gardens of the Palais Royal, near the jeweller's shop. It was 35 years later, in 1893, that Frédéric Boucheron moved to the address that the brand still occupies today at 26, Place Vendôme. The first jeweller to move to a square that would become synonymous with the profession, Frédéric Boucheron chose Place Vendôme above all for its exceptional exposure to light. "Palais-Royal" and "Place Vendôme" appear as signatures on the famous Reflet watch launched in 1947.

As a reminder of the Palais Royal, the Reflet watch bears the engraved motto "Je ne Sonne que les Heures Heureuses" on the caseback. In tribute to Place Vendôme, it bears a secret depiction of the Vendôme column on the sapphire crystal. Designed by the founder’s grandson Gérard Boucheron, it reflects this bold and modern era. The case with its purely geometric lines is adorned with gadroons, while the crown bears a sapphire cabochon. In addition to its timeless style, the Reflet watch featured a major innovation: a patented invisible system thanks to which anyone could change straps at will, without tools. Designed for men, the Reflet was quickly acclaimed by women. Among its followers was the famous French singer Edith Piaf, who bought one for herself in 1948. Convinced it brought her luck, she subsequently purchased many others as gifts: no less than 21 of them between 1949 and 1963!

Reflets ©Boucheron

Reflets ©Boucheron

A true Boucheron icon whose popularity has never waned, the Reflet watch now comes in models for men and women, in gold or steel, polished or gem-set, and equipped with quartz or mechanical self-winding movements. The interchangeable strap system remains a first-class asset.

Drawing on its historic connections with India, in 2016 Boucheron presented the Reflet Small Bleu de Jodhpur as two limited editions: one with a blue aventurine dial and a gem-set version whose white dial is crafted from a sliver of marble; a material rarely used in watchmaking.

Key Characteristics

  • A watch that is instantly recognisable by its gadrooned decor; a best-seller since 1947
  • Easily interchangeable strap thanks to a patented invisible system