WORDS
Eleanor Pryor
Since its beginnings, watchmaking has been one of the purest expressions of where science and art intersect, producing creations that are as beautiful as they are practical. This is something that Abraham-Louis Breguet understood well; beyond being one of horology’s most technical innovators, his creations had a distinctive stylistic touch that took him into the realm of the designer. This is an ethos that the company he founded continues centuries on, with its new release being a showcase of artisanal skills from inside out.
This attention to detail is immediately evident on the carefully balanced dial of the Classique Calendar 7337. Its slightly off-centre central portion is adorned with a fine Clous de Paris hobnail guilloché pattern, hand engraved using a rose engine, while to the outer features a delicate barleycorn motif. Punctuating through with flashes of blue are the day and date, the broad shape of the aperture chosen for its improved legibility. The true star of the show, however, is the moon phase display at 12 o’clock. These celestial bodies have been recreated in miniature with astounding realism, with the moon hand-hammered and the surrounding clouds sand-blasted to give contrasting textures.
Much of the sophistication of the watch is in its incredibly svelte and comfortable profile, made possible thanks to the slim Calibre 502 at its heart. Comprising 236 components in its design that is just 2.4mm thick, it still provides the highest performance because of a number of innovations. This includes the off-centre oscillating weight, opening up the maximum space for the main movement elements to be integrated, while the use of silicon across the balance spring and escapement makes the most of the material’s robust and anti-corrosive properties.