Breguet Classique Hora Mundi Ref. 5717 Europe-Africa

Kong · 2012-07-20T12:33:53Z

Explore the Breguet Classique Hora Mundi Ref. 5717, a complicated world time watch with an instant-jump mechanism. See the Europe-Africa dial and intricate craftsmanship.

Kong

WPS member · Breguet forum

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Kong offers a detailed first look at the Breguet Classique Hora Mundi Ref. 5717 with the Europe-Africa dial, a complex yet aesthetically simplified world time watch. This post highlights the ingenious instant-jump time-zone mechanism and the intricate dial craftsmanship.

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A piece of Breguet Classique Hora Mundi Ref 5717, dropped by here for a while. Glad to be able to view it.

The Hora Mundi Ref 5717 is one straight-forward, complicated time-zones watch. An initial quick glance, some may just passed it off as a time-only piece with a moonphase. Of course the city-window at 6H gave it away.

Most time-zones or GMT pieces, would have a cluttered dial layout with extra secondary-hour-hand and a variation of hour-bezel or rehaut-ring. Typical usage of these time-zones watches are by travelers or business people who wish to track time at the city they are visiting or calling (with the primary hour-hand) and their home time (with the secondary-hour-hand). However, the Hora Mundi Ref 5717 managed to simplify the aesthetic with a refreshing mechanical instant-jump time-zone.

A brief rundown of a prototype piece with the Europe-Africa dial ...

The case is either 43mm rose gold or platinum (as shown in this post). The dial has come in 3 variations : Europe-Africa (per this post), Asia-Oceanic or America.
The dial layout is as followed : date at 12H, day/night indicator at 3H ( not moonphase

) and time zone at 6H.

Talking about the dial, it consists of 4 parts of which 3 parts are made of gold.
Starting from the outer hour-chapter ring, followed by the large centre piece with the map which is slightly convex, polished, hand-engraved wave patterns and the ocean was achieved with multiple coats of lacquer. The other 2 parts made up of the day/night indicator, with the hand-engraved cloud portion in gold. The only part not of gold is the blue background done with lapis lazuli.

The Hora Mundi Ref 5717 has a mechanical memory allowing it to remember two set time-zones.

The first time-zone, just set the home time by using the crown at 3H to select the city at 6H.
After which, set the second time zone using crown at 8H.

The marvelous thing about the 5717, the date and day/night indicator will jump together when toggling between the two time zones by depressing the crown at 8H! Ingenious!

A closer look at the detailings. Guilloche Hour-chapter with signed Breguet secret signatures. Beautiful set of blued hands and similarly to both screws securing the day/night indicator gold-plate.

A close up of the day/night indicator. Sun or moon (in gold too) on the lapis lazuli ...

At another angle ...

The time-zone indicator. Note the finely polished pointed secured with a blued screw ...

View from the side. Case height is 13.55mm. Water resistance rated to 30m.

Sapphire caseback. Within is the automatic movement based on Calibre 777 with a silicon escapement.

Understand 4 patents were filed for this movement, extracted from press release :
The first was for a timepiece comprising a mechanism with two time zones; the second covered the display of a time zone on demand via the main set of hands; the third was for a programmable and reprogrammable mechanical memory wheel for a timepiece; and the last for a mechanism for displaying a temporal dimension by means of a dragging hand.

Note the silicon escapement ...

It is remarkable for Breguet to construct a time-zone piece with such clean and legible dial-layout. However, achieving simplicity is actually complicated. The ingenious toggling of two time-zones with synchonise jump of both date and day-night indication is awesome. Have to see it to appreciate

Kong

About the Breguet Héritage Ref. 5717

The reference 5717 represents Breguet's offering within the Héritage collection, featuring an oval case configuration that distinguishes it from conventional round watch designs. This particular reference occupies a specific position within Breguet's contemporary lineup through its distinctive proportions and rose gold construction.

The watch houses an automatic movement within an 18k rose gold case measuring 42x35mm, indicating an oval or tonneau-shaped profile. The silver dial is protected by sapphire crystal, while the fixed bezel maintains clean lines around the case perimeter. Water resistance extends to 30 meters, positioning this as a dress watch rather than a sport-oriented timepiece.

The 5717 appeals to collectors seeking Breguet's interpretation of classical watchmaking within a non-circular case format. The rose gold construction and silver dial combination provides a traditional precious metal presentation, while the automatic movement offers practical daily wear functionality. This reference serves collectors interested in Breguet's contemporary Héritage line who prefer alternative case shapes to standard round configurations.

Specifications

Caliber: 516GG

Case: 18k Rose Gold

Diameter: 42x35 mm

Dial: Silver

Water Resist.: 30m

Crystal: Sapphire

Key Points from the Discussion

The world time hour window is a point of aesthetic contention, despite the overall beauty of the case and dial, with a suggestion for a ring alternative to improve visual balance.
The Hora Mundi Ref. 5717 is recognized as a very beautiful piece, ranking among the best in its category of complicated time-zone watches.
The photos in the post are lauded as the best available online for this watch, highlighting the difficulty of finding the Hora Mundi in physical retail locations.
The author acknowledges the feedback on the hour window, suggesting that rounding the ends of the window, similar to the date window, could improve balance.
The platinum version of the Hora Mundi is noted as an absolute beauty, with an acknowledgment of its high cost.

The Discussion

Ares501 - Mr Green

Jul 20, 2012

and strong one this is indeed very beautiful piece in the same rank with best of that breed Thank you for info & pictures Best Damjan

Kong

Jul 22, 2012

Thanks for viewing, Damjan. Kong

Kong

Jul 23, 2012

how's watch market in Joburg? Kong

amanico

Jul 24, 2012

Still, there is one detail I don't like on this watch, the WT hour window...Which ruins the beauty of the dial, IMO. The problem is that I don't see any aesthetical alternative to that. A ring, rather than a window, maybe? This reserve apart, the case is very nice, the dial is to die for, and the movement is ok. I will have to see it in the flesh, to confirm or infirm my first feeling about the WT hour window... Best, Nicolas

Kong

Jul 27, 2012

If it is a ring, will be a challenge to display the country-names. Probably both end of the window should be rounded like the date window above, much more balance. Wait for you to see in metal ;-) kong

Horology75

Jul 28, 2012

Now after a long time i want to buy a Breguet. Iam sure the PT version must be costing an arm and a leg... anyhow its an absolute beauty! Well done Breguet!!

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Breguet Classique Hora Mundi Ref. 5717 Europe-Africa

About the Breguet Héritage Ref. 5717

Specifications

Key Points from the Discussion

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