Breguet adds enhancements to its renowned collections
From the technological success of improving the notable Tradition Répétition Minutes Tourbillon launched last year to the creative craftsmanship of modifying a few sparkling timepieces that attract the discerning feminine clientele, Breguet has offered a roster of ground-breaking watches that adhere to its pioneering legacy and rich tradition of innovation
Having been established by the most prominent watchmaking trailblazer, Abraham Louis Breguet, who made an indelible imprint on history with such inventions as the pare-chute shock protection, the raised terminal curve (overcoil) of the balance-spring that takes his name, and of course the tourbillon, the brand and company has carried on his legacy and fascination to innovation. Since its inception in 1775 up to its acquisition by Swatch Group in 1999, Breguet continues the mould-breaking technical development and aesthetic prowess for which the brand has always been renowned.
Today, with the combination of its unique heritage and vigorous policy of investment in research and development, the Manufacture Breguet – under the leadership of its President & CEO Marc A. Hayek – has achieved the feat of radically transforming the construction of the minute repeater for the second time with the new Tradition Répétition Minutes Tourbillon. Also this year, Breguet delights its female watch connoisseurs with Breguet’s enrichment of its collection of feminine watches in its Tradition, Classique, Reine de Naples and High Jewellery collections.
Tradition Répétition Minutes Tourbillon 7087
In 2015, the Manufacture Breguet unveiled the result of several years of fundamental research in the field of acoustics. Today, the Tradition Répétition Minutes Tourbillon returns to the forefront after undergoing certain adjustments intended to improve its sound and its performance. The Tradition Répétition Minutes Tourbillon prides itself on six new patents and five major new innovative elements never previously seen in a wristwatch repetition mechanism. It also boasts the gong springs – a Breguet invention and an essential part of minute repeater mechanisms – which have been entirely reworked. From its exceptional technical characteristics to its stunning beauty, the Tradition Répétition Minutes Tourbillon 7087 is indeed a tribute to Breguet’s long history.
Tradition Dame 7038
Breguet’s Tradition collection welcomes a new self-winding Tradition Dame 7038 model. Women with a penchant for prestigious watchmaking will undoubtedly be won over by this elegant and technical watch featuring an ultra-modern, graphic structure proudly exhibiting almost all the movement components on either side of the mainplate. It features a bridge bearing the escapement is reinforced by a hand-chamfered pare-chute – a Breguet invention that serves to protect the balance-staff from shocks. Another distinctive feature of this ladies’ timepiece lies in the finishing of its movement, with a decoration specifically designed with women in mind.
Type XXI 3817
In 1935, Breguet developed its first wrist chronographs and about two decades later, Breguet launched production of the Type XX model commissioned by the French armed forces. This year, Breguet adds to this historical collection a new model: The Type XXI 3817 chronograph. Its vintage look reflects the history and origins of the Type XX line, while its technical characteristics place it firmly in the 21st century. Its mechanical self-winding movement is endowed with the flyback function characterising Type XX chronographs since 1954. It has been significantly readjusted and endowed with additional technical advantages made possible by the incorporation of silicon components. Devotees of watchmaking mechanisms will be able to admire every last detail of its movement through a sapphire crystal caseback, a first in the history of the Type XX collection.
Classique Phase de Lune Dame 9088
With its Classique Phase de Lune Dame 9088, Breguet enhances its collection of timepieces for women with a watch of timeless elegance. Its minutes track, made up of tiny stars, together with stylised fleurs-de-lis for the five-minute fractions are homage to the Breguet watchmaking tradition. The elegance of this timepiece is enhanced by a series of sublimely delicate brilliant-cut diamonds that grace the bezel and lugs. To ensure its female clientele is spoilt for choice, Breguet also offers this Classique Phase de Lune Dame in a rose-gold version, a non-gem-set version, and one with natural mother-of-pearl that has been engine-turned by hand, complete with Breguet hands and Roman numerals, in white or rose gold, either gem-set or non-gem-set.
Classique Hora Mundi 5727
The Classique Hora Mundi by Breguet launched in 2011, the first mechanical timepiece with an instant-jump time-zone display system with synchronised date, day/night and city indications, comeback with new interpretation. In place of a depiction of the globe, the dial of this 2016 edition features a “clou de Paris” hobnailing motif entirely hand-crafted on a silvered gold dial. Offering devotees of fine watchmaking the ideal timepiece to accompany them in their travels, its single pair of hands linked to a mechanical memory located beneath the dial and capable of keeping track of the time in two time zones, it is thus possible to adjust the time both in one’s place of residence and in another place in the world, and to display one or the other on demand.
Reine de Naples Princesse Mini 9818
First launched in 2002, the exclusively feminine Reine de Naples collection is a tribute to the first wristwatch ordered from Abraham-Louis Breguet by Caroline Murat in 1810 and delivered in 1812. In 2015, Breguet launched the Reine de Naples Princesse Mini watches, adapting the iconic oval shape of the Reine de Naples collection to even the daintiest wrists. This year, Reine de Naples Princesse Mini 9818 offers women the choice of opting for white gold. This new model also adopts other distinctive features including a bezel and lug entirely set with brilliant-cut diamonds as well as a briolette-cut diamond on the crown further magnifies the radiance of this new piece.
Héritage Grande Date 5410
This year, Breguet sought out to broaden the range of complications with the Héritage Grande Date 5410 model. Its Calibre 5166 is endowed with a silicon balance-spring notably enhances the model’s performance, endowing it with exceptional precision and reliability. Clothed in 18-carat rose or white gold, the 45x32mm Héritage Grande Date 5410 timepiece rounds out the collection composed of both men’s and ladies’ models. The large date thus joins existing complications such as a chronograph, a tourbillon and a retrograde moon phase.
