Breguet

Hi All.

First let me start by saying that I have never owned a Breguet.  I've seen a few in the metal and thought they were very nice but just not my cup of tea.  I've always been more of a sport chrono (Rolex Daytonas) or minimalist dress watch (Patek, VC, JLC) kind of guy. 

Recently I've been on the hunt for a new dress piece (VC Partimony, Lange 1815)  but my heart is not really in it since I rarely have the need to tux up or even get into a "nice" suit.  And then I saw a Breguet 3237 and my head started to spin.  This could be the all around piece I've been looking for; a chrono to keep me entertained but in an 18k case small and eloquent enough to be a dress watch.  

So please be kind to a Breguet Noob and post any pics or comments you might have about the 3237 or 5237.  I'm particularily interested in your thoughts about case size, a chrono as a formal piece, and opinions on the Lemania movement as if it could be considered in-house manufacturer?

Also any tips on current recession market value, original MSRP's or a good place to locate one of these beauties would be greatly appreciated.

Best,

Mike

St. louis

 

 

I wouldn't judge this movement on it's "in house" or "not in house" status.   Just judge the movements on it's merits, it is one of the finest chronograph movements in current manufacture, from the glory days of Lemania as an independent movement shop, specializing in chronographs. 


A
ps PM sent on a possible source

I know this movement can be found in other brands but since SWATCH bought Lemania and re-branded them as the Breguet source could not an argument be made that these are now considered in-house?  I know I am starting to split hairs.

Thanks for the reply and PM.

Also PM reply to you.

Best,

Mike

It was developed by Lemania for Lemania's customers, Breguet just bought the rights to it when they bought Lemania.  It is also still sold, or at least it has been sold during Breguet's ownership of Lemania, as a Lemania movement to PP, VC, I think RD and more.  In-house is a squishy, undefined, term, but at least to me requires some active participation in the development of the movement by the brand.  Did my neighbor's Dodge minivan become a Mercedes when Daimler bought Chrysler

A

Yes, Lemania/Nouvelle Lemania is Manufactre Breguet, according to Mr. Nicholas G. Hayek (who founded Swatch/Swatch Group and saved Swiss watch ass, to put it tres joliement, c'est simpa, oui), and MB, as well as Montres Breguet (and Omega, and Tissot, and... look up www.swatchgroup.com) belong to the Swatch Group (just like Tag Heuer, Ebel, and others, belong to LVMH - Louis Vuitton Moet Hennesey, look them up, Tiger Woods wears a Tag Heuer, etc.).  Seems there are not many independent watch manufacturers these days, but you'll find 'em here in purists/watchprosite land.

Breguet rocks!  Abraham-Louis would be proud as to what Mr. Hayek has done with the famous brand.  Omega rocks, too, they are the flagship brand of Swatch.  What makes a watch movement "in-house"?  The watch brand owns the movement manufacturer's 'house', that's what.  Judge by performance, cost, and reputation, etc.  Frederic Piguet and ETA-Valjoux (also owned by Swatch Group) make very good movements, and the Lemania you have in your Breguet reminds me of the caliber 321 (and a bit like the 861) in the Omega Speedmaster, aka, la montre de la lune (the moonwatch).

Then there's the Dark Side ("Luke, you don't know the power of the Dark Side!"), aka, Rolex.  Yippee.

Enjoy!        =:^D