Breguet pays tribute to its innovative founder with an exquisite new openworked timepiece
Few watchmakers hold such an esteemed place in horological history as Abraham-Louis Breguet, with the subscription watch one of his most important creations. This pared-back timepiece from 1796 featured an elegant single hand and enamel dial design, and was equipped with a precise movement brilliant in its simplicity. The watch proved a great success, with around 700 made.
It is this piece of timekeeping art from which Breguet’s Tradition collection draws its inspiration, including the latest addition, the Tradition Quantième Rétrograde 7597. Showcasing the manufacture’s watchmaking expertise as well as the exquisite finishing of its movements, the dial is left open revealing the 505Q self-winding calibre within.
Like all of Breguet’s timepieces, it has been designed with both accuracy and aesthetics in mind. Its pleasingly balanced look has been achieved by positioning the large barrel in the centre, topped by a symmetrically arranged gear train. Meanwhile, a centre wheel at 8 o’clock triggers the oscillating mechanism of the same size at 4 o’clock.
Other great Breguet innovations make their appearance in the refined piece. It is equipped with his famed pare-chute, a forerunner of today’s anti-shock mechanisms. Meanwhile, the hour and minute dial located at 12 o’clock takes its cues from the design of certain Breguet tact watches, featuring an elegant Clous de Paris pattern and finished with blued Breguet hands. Turn over the watch and you can further admire the movement through the transparent caseback, including the gold rotor inspired by those of Breguet’s Perpetuelles watches from the 18th century.
