Breguet

For example, the Tradition. 

When Breguet decided to unveil it in 2005, ( 16 years ago, already! ) we learnt that the took their inspiration from a much more distant past, and more precisely, from a certain Subscription watch which was born circa 1800. 

I was lucky enough to see this pocket watch in reality, thanks to Emmanuel Breguet, who kindly authorized me to take some pictures. 

Here, the Subscription watch from 1805. 

Back in 2005, Breguet unveiled the first member of what will become a family, the reference 7027, in a 37 mm case, in colored gold, but also in white gold. 

Here is the 7027 in white gold. 

Since then, we saw a Tradition Chronograph, a Tradition Tourbillon , a Tradition Minute Repeater, and even a Tradition Automatique whose rotor is inspired from another pocket watch. 

The " Simple manual winding " Tradition also came in a bigger case ( 39 mm ), under another reference, the 7057.

At that time, in 2005, if my memory serves me well, the Tradition, despite its... traditional look, was the first wristwatch to show the parts of the movement on the dial side. The second watch from another brand to offer such a particularity came a few years after, from Germany, the aptly named Glashutte Original PanoInverse. 

The Tradition " time only " is, in my opinion, an icon. This is the kind of watch you immediately recognize, which, moreover, gathers all the characteristics of a Breguet watch, or, if you prefer, represents the true DNA of the brand: The " moon " tip blue hands, the hand made guilloché dial, the Pare Chute " shock protection system ", the Breguet Balance Spring, invented in 1795, the ribs on the side case, and this unmistakable aesthetics which crossed the centuries in a timeless way. 

Add a touch of modernity, with a silicon spring, and you have a stunning " cocktail ". 

Among all the Breguet watches I know, the Tradition indisputably belongs to the history of the brand, to its Patrimony. 

A few words on the versions I could see all along these years: My natural preference goes for the simpler Tradition, and in white gold. Even if I totally understand the charm of the yellow gold, which looks more " historical ". I also prefer the 37 mm case, but I have to say that I was not disturbed at all by the 40 mm version, as the extra millimeters don't make it loose its harmony. 

I will keep the best for the end... A side by side picture of the Tradition reference 7057 with the Subscription watch from 1805...

To show you how faithful the modern Tradition is.

Looking forward to reading your comments and thoughts,

Best.

Nicolas

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