By: Roger Ruegger
On June 26, 1801, Abraham-Louis Breguet was granted a 10-year patent for the invention of the tourbillon. To celebrate this incredibly important milestone in horology, the watchmaker decided to introduce new versions of three existing models (the Tradition 4047 and Marine Tourbillon Equation Marchante 5887 are both limited to 25 pieces, the Classique Tourbillon Sidéral to 50 pieces), and to bring back the Classique Tourbillon 7357 with an optimized movement and revamped case in platinum or Breguet gold.
Next to the four novelties, Breguet also showcased Abraham-Louis Breguet’s very first four-minute tourbillon and his third tourbillon watch ever made. Known as the No. 1176, this pocket chronograph displays a fan-shaped power reserve sector calibrated for 35 hours, a small hour dial and additional small rings for the two subsidiary seconds. It also features an “échappement naturel” designed by Breguet in 1789. This watch was first sold to Count Potocki, one of the most notable Polish figures of the Age of Enlightenment and acquired by Breguet in 2014 for CHF 821,000.
The Tradition 7047 features a fusee-chain system (with 232 links) designed to optimize the rate regularity of the watch by ensuring constant torque, whatever its winding level is. This version of the manually-wound 41-mm watch is limited to 25 pieces and also subject to a patent application concerning its power reserve of 55 hours: indicated at 10 o’clock, it features a reducer differential allowing it to be displayed on the barrel drum. CHF 246,300 / $325,200
The revamped Classique Tourbillon 7357 is based on an optimized version of the famous 558 movement now known as Cal. 187B (offering a power reserve of 60 hours). The 35-mm manual-winding watch is available in two new versions (platinum and Breguet gold, Ref. 7357BH/1H/386), retailing for CHF 154,000 and 140,000 / $203,300 in platinum, $184,800 in Breguet gold
With a tourbillon featured at 5 o’clock, the 43.9-mm Marine Tourbillon Equation Marchante 5887 from Breguet also houses a perpetual calendar and displays a running equation of time, one of the rarest and most fascinating watchmaking complications: It displays the difference between the mean solar time – civil hours and minutes – and the true solar time – solar hours and minutes. The equation cam is visible on the tourbillon axis. On the Marine 5887, the minutes of the solar time are indicated directly with the solar minutes hand with a faceted golden sun. The 60-second tourbillon features a titanium carriage with a silicone Breguet balance spring. This allows the balance spring to reach a frequency of 4 Hz while offering a power reserve of 80 hours (displayed in an aperture between 7 and 9 o’clock). Last but not least, customers will be able to personalize the miniature painting of the night’s sky on the dial. CHF 292,300 (CHF 370,700 on bracelet) / $385,900 ($489,400 on bracelet)
The latest version of the 38-mm Classique Tourbillon Sidéral 7225 with mystery flying tourbillon now comes with a black aventurine enamel dial, the manual-winding Caliber 187M1 offers a a 50-hour power reserve. CHF 223,000 / $294,000
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