Breguet

Can anyone comment on Breguet's reputation as a watchmaker.  I understand it was bought (and is owned) by Swatch Watch Group.  How does this affect quality as well as a Breguet watch holding its value.     Thanks much.

I recently sold my Breguet 5237, disappointed with the finish of the movement, and botched screws. It may have been a fluke example--it may be bad reason to sell a watch, it may be my perception only, but it made an impression on me. I wouldn't spend the big bucks on a Breguet again, although I still admire their designs, and most importantly, their history.

I do not mean to provoke or insult anyone with this post, just to answer from my experience.

Hi Mostel,

"Botched screws" is pretty strong, how bad were they?   Visible cosmetic damage is possible with any brand, but it's surprising on a Breguet at least.

_john

I am not pretending to be in any way an expert and certainly not in your league. I am just sharing what I saw with my eyes, there were several screws that were 'scratched' or otherwise not more than poorly finished--it gave the impression of 'fine details being overlooked'. The overall 'glow' of the movement--purely personal--seemed dim and even darkish compared to my VC Les Historiques. I was surprised that the Breguet did not hold a candle to it. Again, only my opinion, my eyes.

Funny, when I bought it, I was of course, 'blown away'. But when I got it home, and examined it under magnification at length, I was honestly shocked at the what I perceived as oversights.

I respect your knowledge and contributions greatly, John, and as I said before, I do not mean to provoke anyone or insult anyone.

But I am not saying Breguet is not a wonderful brand. I am only saying, it made an impression on me, and I would have to look very closely at a Breguet in the future before I 'trusted' it would be Magnificent.

I have also found a damaged hand on a new Patek. And other such oversights.

It;s not really an indictment of Breguet.  But worth mentioning?

Hi Mostel,

I'm not offended by your observations certainly, nor did I intend to make you feel like it was a mistake to share them.  I do feel it's important to put comments such as yours in a proper context and qualify and quantify them as much as possible.  Obviously pictures are a big help in this regard, but even they can be misleading due to the magnification, lighting, etc.

So are you saying the damaged screws were visible with the naked eye, or only under magnification?  The industry standard for cosmetic defects is 12 inches distance with unaided eyes.  This standard was created for the external elements of the case, bracelet, dial and hands though and it's not 100% clear to me that this standard should also be applied to movements of watches with display backs.  I'd venture to say that higher standards should be used for display back movements, but what should they be?  Defects should not be visible with 4x magnification?  10x? 

Perfection in this regard is relative of course and it's entirely subjective as to what is or is not a reasonable standard (absent any relevant widely accepted standards that is).

_john

nt

Please let us know. Though thing seem sleepy from time to time.  The passion runs high in this forum.

Help us understand and help us resolve your issue.

It is a real pleasure to have this forum to be heard and to be supported.

Best for 08

Bill

Hi Mostel,

Totally agreed with Bill!Voice it out and the best if you have any pictures around.I am totally stunn to hear that especially with a Bruguet!!!simply unbelievable.Admitting that the giant SWATCH group acquired the brand but knowing and adimring this brands for years never come across such bad experince....would be glad if you share it with us,like bill said.....passion and everything on watches run HOT across this forum!

thanks.

BHK9

I am an admirer of A.L. Breguet art and inventions... I own ( proudly) a perpetual calendar ref. 5327...I can make sacrifices in order to have one day a Messidor tourbillon..  I, personally  feel happy that Breguet is belonging to the Swatch group... If you read the company's history you will see that it had not flourished under Chaummet's or Investcorp's ownership... While under the Swatch group ownership and the happy event of N.G. Hayek's personal interest, Breguet joined Nouvelle Lemania and now is a full blown manufacture, something that it was not, since Louis Abraham Breguet's time...
The craftmanship of the Breguet models are up to the best ( of course I don't use an electronic microscope, just a watchmaker's loupe ) and, for me at least the historic DNA of the brand can be seen in almost all it's models, even the newest...
So, in answer to your original question, yes Breguet is a VERY valuable and extremely beautiful investment...
Tassos

want to thank all those responding to my question....I, too, do not mean to insult any Breguet afficionado....I am just a newbie to the lux watch world, and seems like these forums are the best way to find out about such beautiful timepieces. 

I cannot remember seeing any flaws,perhaps a microscope would serve better ;-)

but in earnest I have some difficulties to believe the term "botched screws" with a Breguet,esp.a fine one as the 5237.

The camera I used is certainly no professional makro-equipment,but also with a lupe I never saw something like the thing You described as botched (!!!) screws in a Breguet,also no scratched ones,except at second hand watches,and the criticism in the "finish of the movement" would need a lot of further detailled explanation too apart from it being "dim",how does finish correspond to the "glow of the movement"?,I cannot answer,but also would rather not draw any conclusions if or how much a -lets say- "shiny" movement is finished better than a less shiny one...

some poor pics:

IMVHO these are no pictures of botched or less excellently  finished movements as exaples from the other top brands,but I am no expert of course and never took them apart.

regards,

Lutz

hi lutz,

Your remarks were very humble.In our community there is a say:humble person with humble speeches often person of honour.

Your pictures were perfectly taken under macro snap!the contrast and visibility were perfect there were some reflection on the 2nd picture if i hae not mistaken.

Conclusion,Breguet has execellent reputation and serious high end construction and finishing on every aspect of fine watch making.

Thanks for sharing!

BHK9

Should it have the finish equal to those two watches?

Hello jasny,

pricing is a peculiar thing about watches and normally(but not always) follows demand/supply,but a brand like Breguet just  cannot afford having a minor finissage to Lange or PP IMO.

In case it really has -and this discussion did not convince- they would be in urgent need to amend.

PP made some changes to the movement as everyone knows,but that hardly explains the much higher price of their Chronos,on the other hand their resale value is a VERY differnt thing because of PP's acquired top-position at auctions where Breguet cannot compete,thus Mr Stern would be silly not to ask a much higher MSRP to start with.

just my opinion,kind regards,

Lutz

You would probably receive some interesting answers. I think it's generally agreed that Breguet makes very nice watches, and it's understood that every watch brand establishes its identity through a combination of marketing and watchmaking. However, outside the community of Breguet enthusiasts many people seem to feel that the proportion of marketing to watchmaking is rather heavy in Breguet's case. Breguet relies very heavily on (1) a brand history that is, shall we say, a bit romanticized and (2) giving "manufacture" status to movements it acquired by corporate merger rather than by watch design. This causes the owners of watches with truly in-house designed movements and more solid histories to chuckle a bit. Breguet also has something of an odd pricing situation: to support its claim to be a top house it must set its prices at levels comparable to those of the top houses. However, it apparently does not have an easy time selling at those prices, so there always seem to be a lot of heavily-discounted Breguets floating around.

1. About Breguet romanticizing it's history... What is wrong with that??? One has to have many reasons to buy an expensive watch, and the brand's history is not a negligible factor!!! If not he can watch the time on his cell...
2, Breguet HAS a Manufacture status since the aquisition of Nouvelle Lemania and from at least 2002 all calibres are in house manifactured and most of them are new designs...The past of Brown, Chaumet and Investcorp is past
I am not diminishing the excellent value of Patek, Lange and Vacheron but most new breguets are masterpieces
Tassos