Breguet

Basel 2009: Breguet
by Timm Delfs

This year I was fortunate to actually hold in my own hands (and listen to) the replica of Breguet's famous "Marie Antoinette", the watch that had been commissioned for her by a gentleman.

Breguet is one of the brands that don't announce their novelties using all sorts of superlatives.  This year, furthermore, was dedicated to slight modifications in existing models.  Thus, for example, the first model of the "Tradition" was shown in two new versions, one in white gold, the other one in rose gold.  The most noteable difference consists in the guilloché gold dial that has been covered with a black coating as opposed to the silvered one of the original.

The Tradition Breguet in its rose gold version.

 

Transparent back of the Tradition Breguet in white gold displaying a different treatment of the surfaces.

 

The Classique Double Tourbillon with its engraved rendering of the planets on the back is now available in rose gold.  The two tourbillons that orbit the guilloché dial are linked to the rest of the gear train via a differential that averages the rate of the two tourbillons.

Breguet Classique Grande Complication Ref. 5347BR/11/9ZU with double tourbillon and differential.

 

Back of Breguet Classique Grande Complication Ref. 5347BR/11/9ZU with double tourbillon and differential.

 

There is a completely new "Classique Grande Complication" in white gold featuring a minute repeater.  With its 42 mm case it is comparably large for a Breguet watch.  Its manually wound movement beats at a rate of 18'000 a/h.

Breguet Minute Repeater Ref. 7637BB/12/9ZU.

 

Special edition of the minute repeater movement with engraving of a Jazz band. The movement belongs to the fully gemset version.

 

The dial of this Breguet minute repeater has been set pave with inversed cut diamonds.

 


Even the repeater-lever has been set with baguette diamonds.   There is a redesigned version of the "Classique" model 3337BA, called the 7337BA.  Its case diameter has been enlarged from 35.80 mm to 39 mm.  On the dial a small seconds subdial has been added which is situated slightly off-centre at 5 o'clock.  It is equipped with a self-winding 2.5 Hz movement based on an ultra-thin 12 lines Piguet calibre with excentric rotor.