In September 2019, Breguet hosted a series of events to celebrate its 2019 Novelties in its boutique in The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands. On this special occasion, the guests had the opportunity to get a closer look and feel on three new references in the Classique collection, the revamp of La Marine collection for ladies, the red colour variation of the Reine de Naples 8918 and above all, the 2019 Masterpiece: Breguet Classique Tourbillon Extra-Plat Squelette 5395. This timekeeper embodies the values of the Swiss watchmaking brand, that celebrated over its 244 years-old history the most refined craftsmanship and horology innovations.
The long road that leads to the summit of watchmaking is approached from different angles. In fact, at Breguet, it has always involved two climbs to the top: mastering the mechanics and the aesthetics. This concern for aesthetics is not merely a recent flirtation but dates back to the very beginnings of the House of Breguet. Right from the start, Abraham-Louis Breguet pursued and spearheaded two avenues at once, enjoying inventing new mechanical devices as well as imagining a more original style that was more in tune with watchmaking at the time. The new references to join the Manufacture collections in 2019 mirror that continuous quest over the past 244 years with a focus on refined aesthetics, Breguet’s allure, development of new guilloche patterns and grand feu blue enamelling.
For its new Classique Tourbillon Extra-Plat Squelette 5395, Breguet has opted for an extra-thin skeleton design for its tourbillon movement. Fantastic in its design, captivating in its function, the Tourbillon invention, patented by Abraham-Louis Breguet on 7 Messidor An 9 (June 26, 1801), has never ceased to command respect, right from when it was first presented to the current day.
Because while it has remained true to its purpose, the tourbillon has flourished with the emergence of new technologies. The extreme thin dimensions of the movement of its 581 calibres has already propelled Breguet to bold technical feats in its previous creations. With a thickness of three millimetres, it is one of the finest self-winding tourbillon movements in the world. Now the House of Breguet is going even further, removing almost 50 per cent of the material from this movement, without compromising the build. This skeleton design, within an 18-karat gold calibre that literally plays with the limits of what is possible, highlights the true craftsmanship of the watchmakers. The gold plate and bridges have been hollowed out so as to display the mechanical anatomy of the movement. The challenge of this undertaking lies primarily in removing as much material as possible while preserving the technical properties of the various different components.
A truly novel watchmaking complication made even more challenging by the choice of gold. Once the chosen alloy has hardened, sophisticated expertise and care are needed to achieve the final result. Breguet is one of the last watchmakers to fashion gold to this standard.
The Classique collection also unveils new feminine variations featuring a mother-of-pearl dial, and a masculine model presenting the Breguet blue for the first time in a grand feu enamel dial.
Powered by the self-winding 777Q mechanical calibre, the Classique 5177 Grand Feu Blue Enamel model has simple and useful functions: the central second hand and the date at 3 o’clock. Current technological advances such as the use of silicon for the lever, escape wheel and hairspring optimize its chronometric reliability. However, certain aesthetic elements of this calibre, in particular, the form of the wheels, are reminiscent of Breguet’s creations from the late eighteenth century. The House of Breguet also dedicates a new Marine collection to modern-day women explorers, inspired by our oceans. As one of several details echoing the marine world appears a new guilloche pattern, called marea, capturing the natural movement of the water. The artisans of the Manufacture have made this demanding design come alive on mother-of-pearl, a particularly fragile material, which graces the dial and rotor of the movement for this collection. Reinterpreted with a contemporary touch, the Reine de Naples features two new colourful creations. The first one is adorned with a blue lacquered dial and a matching denim strap. Reminiscent of a starry sky, this dial stands out thanks to a deep-blue lacquer with turquoise blue scrolls. The second model is enhanced with a touch of crimson.
At Breguet, the artisanal crafts are not just a mere exercise in watchmaking mechanics. They represent the very essence of the House of Breguet, which has always valued aesthetics and technique, the arts and sciences, as well as accuracy and dreams equally, embodied in the Manufacture 2019 Novelties.
Until tomorrow, October 3rd 2019, rare timepieces of Breguet collection are in Breguet Boutique in The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands.
Breguet Classique Complications Minute Repeater 7639
Classique “Grande Complication” minute repeater wristwatch in 18-carat white gold. Hand-wound movement, engraved by hand. Bezel, case band, repeating-lever and lugs set with 160 baguette cut diamonds, approx. 10.82 cts.
Dial paved with 392 baguette-cut diamonds, approx. 6.73 cts, silvered gold chapter ring with 12 diamond hour-markers, approx. 0.017ct. Sapphire case back. Diameter : 44.50 mm.
Case in 18-carat white gold, ovoid. Caseband set with 24 brilliant-cut diamonds (approx. 0.24 ct). Surround set with 23 brilliant-cut diamonds (approx. 4.12 cts) and an Akoya pearl. Flange set with 66 brilliant-cut diamonds (approx. 0.13 ct). Chaton settings incorporating 15 brilliant-cut diamonds beneath the prongs (approx. 0.93 ct). Crown set with a briolette diamond (approx. 0.28 ct). Sapphire-crystal caseback. Dimensions 34.4 x 28.7mm.
Dial in engine-turned natural mother-of-pearl. Breguet medallion at 12 o’clock. Offset hours chapter with diamond markers at 3, 6, 9 and 12 o’clock. Breguet open-tipped hands in blued steel.
Self-winding movement, numbered and signed Breguet. Cal. 586/1. 6¾ lignes, 29 jewels. 38 hours power reserve. Rotor in engine-turned 950 platinum. In-line Swiss lever escapement. Breguet balance on a silicon spring. Balance frequency 3Hz. Adjusted in 6 positions.
Satin strap with a folding clasp set with 26 brilliant-cut diamonds (approx. 0.14 ct).
Approx. 5.7 carats of diamonds in total.
