Baselworld 2013…

Given the Caliber number I assume, but will confirm when I meet with Breguet, that this piece is mechanically similar to the Reveil Musical (Cal 900, circa 2010).  The centre of the dial rotates completely when the music is activated. On/off indicator for the sound in an aperture between 9 and 10 o’clock. Power-reserve indicator for the music in an aperture at 3 o’clock.  Stunningly beautiful engine turned dial pattern!  I’ll also find out what tune it plays!

48mm x 16.6mm rose gold case, caseband engraved with a musical score, Rotating dial is platinum plated and engine-turned, automatic mechanical Breguet Cal 901

Baselworld 2013…

An0ther thin piece from Breguet, this one 8mm, and 38mm diameter.  96 hour power reserve, too — Breguet notes that it has a patented high-energy barrel.

rose gold case with fluted caseband, dial silvered and engine-turned in a hobnail pattern. Hand-wound Breguet Cal. 515DR movement (4Hz) with small seconds and power reserve of 96 hours (dial indicator at 1:30)

Baselworld 2013…

A new, two-register central chronograph from Breguet, with manual wind caliber.

42.5mm rose gold with a finely fluted caseband (12.1mm thick), dial silvered and engine-turned in four different patterns; Small seconds at 9 o’clock and 30 minutes counter at 3 o’clock, tachometer scale around the hours chapter.

Hand-wound chronograph movement Breguet Cal. 533.3, (Power reserve of 48 hours, 3Hz)

Also available in a white-gold case: ref. 5287BB/12/9ZV.
Also available with a black dial in a white- or rose-gold case: refs 5287BR/92/9ZVand 5287BB/92/9ZV

Baselworld 2013…7mm thin

If I am not mistaken, this is now the world’s thinnest tourbillon watch at 7mm.  Just days ago Arnold & Son previewed their UTTE whose case is 8.34mm, and claimed world record status.  The caliber in that watch was 2.97mm thin.  However I have no word on the thickness of this caliber (although the case dimensions are certainly thinner).  Back with more soon…

Breguet Classique Grandes Complications 5377BR

42mm rose gold case (7mm thin) with a finely fluted caseband, gold dial, silvered and engine-turned in four different patterns, hours chapter with Roman numerals; Breguet open-tipped hands in polished steel; small seconds on the tourbillon. Power reserve (90 hours) indicator at 8:30.

automatic mechanical extra-thin tourbillon movement, Breguet Cal 581DR, Barrel on roller bearings. Lateral lever escapement in silicon and anti-magnetic steel. Silicon balance spring. 4Hz frequency.

Also available in a platinum case: reference 5377PT/12/9WU.

In addition to inspiring the name of this website (did you know that the perpétuelle was invented in 1780?) , watch enthusiasts can also thank Breguet for inventing the tourbillon.  An innovation whose origins date way back to 1801!  Below you can enjoy a great video about the tourbillon, as well a closer look at the Ref 5317 Classique Grande Complication (pictured above as well).
Read the rest of this entry »

Breguet offers an excellent line of cufflinks, dating back to its Breguet “B” cufflinks which I believe were first introduced in 2007.   Shown here is the latest offering from the brand, the Breguet Classique Email Grand Feu cufflinks in white gold.  The face of the cufflinks are white enamel (“email”) and feature a gold-accented moonphase display.   The Arabic numeral 8 is on one cufflink and 9 on the other, in black enamel — I’m not sure if there is any significance to these numerals.  Hours chapter and markings in black enamel.

Breguet Ref 7787 Enamel Cufflinks

(Ref 9905.BB.7787)

Breguet’s cufflinks are, as one would expect, modeled after the manufacture’s own watches.  The cufflinks shown here are no exception — Breguet connoisseurs may recognize these cufflinks as sharing much in common with the Breguet Classique Moon Phase enamel wristwatch, Ref 7787 which debuted in 2011.  Red gold gold cufflinks of the same style shown here also debuted in 2011, I might add.  Does this suggest that the 7787 enamel will be issued in white gold for 2013?  Possibly.

You can check out all of Breguet’s cufflinks here.

Did You Know?

In addition to their fine timepieces, many high end brands make their own accessories and/or jewelry.  Most often these items are little known, a consequence of their limited production quantities and that they are often sold through a brand’s own boutique or other select venues.   This is not to say that they aren’t some of the most fantastic items in the showroom, it’s just that they play second fiddle to the real stars of the show, the timepieces.

In 2005, Breguet introduced its 7027 Tradition model, the first of its wristwatches to reveal the mechanisms of the movement on the dial side.   Since then, the Tradition collection has become one of the most representative of the Breguet brand.  In 2012 Breguet added a second timezone complication to the lineup:  the Breguet Tradition 7067.  Available in a 40mm rose or white gold case, this piece is a real beauty.  Let’s take a closer look, shall we? Video and more photos, after the jump

Baselworld 2012:  Another new piece from Breguet, this one a bit different look from the traditional.  Part of Breguet’si Héritage collection, this watch features a selfwinding calibre 586L movement with platinum winding rotor on the inside, and a  moon phase indicator with hours and minutes on the engine-turned mother of pearl dial.  In addition to rose gold case that is pictured, the Breguet Ref 8860 will also be produced in white gold case in either matching bracelet or woven strap (also pictured).

Breguet Heritage Phases de Lune Retrograde (Ref. 8660)

35mm x 25mm curved tonneau rose gold case, fluting on the caseband, dial with a centre in mother of pearl, engine-turned by hand in a flinqué alterné pattern; chapter ring in frosted silver-plating.  Moonphases with a rose gilt moon at 1 o’clock.

Rose gold case on a matching gold bracelet, Ref. 8860BR/11/RB0
White gold case on a woven leather strap, Ref. 8860BB/11/386
White gold case on a matching gold bracelet, Ref. 8860BB/11/BB0

Baselworld 2012:   Finally some 2012 Breguet!  Couple ni ce ones first here’s the Breguet Classique Chronométrie Ref 7727, a nice mix of classic breguet design and cutting edge high-beat movement technology.   Lot to say on this watch but first notice the “10hz” dial notation — you may recall this high-beat movement innovation appearing in the 2010 Breguet Type XXII Ref 3880.   The Ref 3880 ST with a frequency of 10 Hz was the resulting of Breguet’s research into high frequencies aimed at a closer and more stable measurement of time. It was the first series-produced watch with a movement of 10 Hz.  At the same time, the brand introduced the world’s first magnetic governor for the strike in the Breguet Réveil Musical (both Ref 3880 and Reveil Musical are nicely profiled in the new Breguet iPad app). With this alarm watch it demonstrated that instead of trying to counter the effects of magnetism, the phenomenon could be harnessed to improve the operation of watch movements.   Though to me the “10hz” symbol seems almost incongruous with the very classical Breguet dial design, in a weird fusion sort of way, I like it.  More on this watch below, but first a look:

Breguet Classique Chronometrie (Ref. 7727)

41mm rose gold case (white gold also avail), welded lugs, Dial: 18-carat silvered gold, engine-turned by hand in six different patterns, power-reserve indicator at 5 o’clock, small seconds at 12 o’clock, silicon hand indicating tenths of a second at 1 o’clock, Movement: Cal. 574 DR, hand-wounded numbered and signed BREGUET. (60-hour power-reserve, in-line Swiss lever escapement in silicon, silicon balance-spring. 10 Hz frequency); fitted on Strap: Leather strap.

Now a few more thoughts/details on this watch.  In the matter of styling, you see the hours and minutes are off -centre on the dial, while the small seconds at 12 o’clock recall the first eccentric dial produced by Breguet 200 years ago.  Curiously, “a patented silicon hand” indicates the tenths of a second at 1 o’clock.  The pare-chute shock absorber is also visible at 2 o’clock, another Abraham-Louis Breguet invention (1790).  Finally,the power reserve indicator is clear 5 o’clock. As is the Breguet tradition, the dial reflects masterful use of engine-turned patterns — 6 different patterns to be exact:  “Geneva waves” in the center main dial, a “clou de Paris hobnailing” design adorns the small seconds dial, the tenths -of-a-second counter displays a “sunburst” pattern, the power-reserve indicator is decorated in “chevrons”, the chapter ring for the hours has an “edging” decoration and the outside edge is in a “barleycorn” pattern.  The use of these patterns to visually distinguish different “sub sections” on the dial of a watch and as well to add to its beauty is something that Breguet does better than any other.

This watch is fitted with a calibre 574 DR hand-wound movement with a Breguet magnetic balance oscillating at 10 Hz on a silicon spring, and an in-line Swiss lever escapement in silicon.  A stop-seconds feature allows the watch to be set to a time signal. The rose gold case, water resistant to 3 bar (30 m), has a sapphire-crystal caseback displaying the movement.

Note also:  the fluting on the caseband, the polished steel Breguet hands, the welded lugs, the unique number as well as the secret signature.   The reference 7727 also comes in a white-gold case with a leather strap.

Baselworld 2012: Breguet’s emblematic “Tradition” collection is being enriched this year with an original model in 18-carat rose gold. This “Grande Complication” timepiece featuring a tourbillon, fusee and chain transmission, and a Breguet balance spring in silicon, joins the existing models in yellow gold and platinum. Inspired by the legendary souscription watches created by A.-L. Breguet, this objet d’art symbolizes both a return to roots and a resolutely forward-looking brand vision. It’s pure, modern aesthetic sets the stage for the tourbillon and the fusee and chain transmission located on the upper part of the mainplate. This sculptural piece highlights the contrast and relief effects, giving vibrant life to each component. These technical accomplishments symbolising Breguet’s horological excellence are duly protected by four patents.

Ref. 7047BR/g9/9ZU

Case in 18-carat rose gold with a finely fluted caseband. Sapphire crystal back. Diameter 41 mm. Rounded lugs welded to the case, screw-secured spring-bars. Water-resistant to 3 bar (30 m).

Dial in black-coated engine-turned 18-carat gold, off-centred at 7 o’clock. Individually numbered and signed Breguet. Chapter ring with Roman numerals. 60-second tourbillon at 1 o’clock. Polished steel “moon” tip Breguet hands.

Movement mechanical hand-wound with tourbillon, anthracite coating. Numbered and signed Breguet. Cal. 569. 16 lignes. 43 jewels. 50-hour power reserve with power-reserve indication on the barrel drum. Constant torque ensured throughout the running of the watch thanks to the fusee and chain transmission. Titanium upper bridge of the tourbillon carriage Breguet type tourbillon bar. Straight-line Swiss lever escapement. Breguet titanium balance with four gold adjustment screws. Breguet silicon balance spring, 2.5 Hz. Adjusted in 6 positions. Alligator leather strap.