When Breguet unveiled its Tourbillion Messidor in 2007, it was a quiet sensation. This Classique “Grande Complication”, open-worked wristwatch in 18-carat rose gold and platinum represents the apex of skeleton or squelette watches: high-end artisan timepieces wherein the components of the movement have been reduced down to the smallest number of plates and bridges possible. The dial consists of rose gold ornaments set into a sapphire crystal; a hand-wound movement with running seconds on the tourbillon shaft, and an invisible tourbillon bridge plus a compensating balance spring with Breguet overcoil. The diameter is a handsome 40mm. The watch is also available with a rose gold or platinum bracelet. Photograph © Breguet Blog

In 2023, the new Quantième Perpétuel 7327 was released. This model replaces the earlier 5327 first introduced in 2004. The Quantième Perpétuel drew inspiration from Breguet’s pocket watches and embodies the firm’s neoclassical design. Hallmarks include the traditional eccentric “moon” tip watch-hands in blued steel, the Clous de Paris hobnail guilloché pattern for the dial and extensive Côtes de Genève for the bridges and other components. Ref. 7327 has a leaner dial design and the 502.3.P movement has been upgraded to include a more accurate moon phase. At just 4.5mm thick, it remains one of Breguet’s thinnest with a self-winding movement, a perpetual calendar, a balance spring in silicon running at a frequency of 3Hz with a 45-hour power reserve. Traditionally sized at 39mm in diameter, the watch is available in rose gold and white gold. Photograph © Breguet Blog

Breguet’s Classique Hora Mundi wristwatch in 950 platinum represents the maison’s deluxe approach to a world, time-travel watch. With a self-winding movement and instant jump time-zone display with synchronised date, day/night indication and city. Balance spring, lever and escape wheel are in silicon. The spherical dial is decorated with a “wave” motif coated with translucent lacquer with “The Americas” set with diamonds. The chapter ring is paved with baguette-cut diamonds and baguette-cut sapphires. The bezel, dial flange and lugs are set with baguette-cut diamonds. Haute joaillerie collides with Breguet’s famously innovative watchmaking in this technical marvel to suit all potential world travellers. Photograph © Breguet Blog

Breguet’s Classique “Grande Complication” minute repeater wristwatch in 18-carat rose gold, ref. 7637BR, unseats the greatest names among watch competitors. Quietly understated, this repeater is so well calibrated it sounds like a gong repeater. The minute repeater is extremely moving to listen to, making it a watch for true connoisseurs, the cognoscenti among watch collectors. The movement is hand-wound and the back is spectacularly engraved by hand. The dial side features double seconds and a 24-hour display with day and night sectors. The silvered gold dial, hand-engraved on a rose engine, shows four different types of guillochage. Sapphire caseback but not water resistant. The watch is also available in white gold, diameter: 42 mm and with an elegant depth of 12.35 mm. Photograph © Breguet Blog

Breguet’s new Classique “Grande Complication” skeleton wristwatch with tourbillon, ref. 5395PT shown above. Delightfully thin, this reference combines a self-winding movement with a peripheral oscillating weight that is almost imperceptible. The balance spring and escape wheel are in silicon, the delicate chapter ring with Roman numerals is on a sapphire disc. Running seconds are displayed on the tourbillon shaft with plenty of anglage, mirror polishing and a sapphire crystal caseback. It is water-resistant to 3 bar (30m), diameter: 41mm and available in platinum or rose gold. Photograph © Breguet Blog

Breguet spells innovation: the Tradition Independent Chronograph, ref. 7077BB shown above, is Breguet’s sixth chronograph calibre and presents a construction never seen before. The result of five years of development and numerous patents it was unveiled at Baselworld 2015 to great acclaim. Inspired by Breguet’s pocket watches, No. 960 sold in 1802 and No. 4009 sold in 1825, consisting of two balance-wheels that power the chronograph (5 Hz) and time (3 Hz) separately from one another. With its unique construction, the chronograph is accurate to within +/- 0.08 seconds over 20 minutes. The owner starts the chronograph with the push-piece at 4 o’clock and stops and resets the mechanism with the push-piece at 8 o’clock. The added benefit is that the chronograph is automatically fully wound every time the reset button is pushed. This phenomenal innovation means the amplitude of the chronograph is never compromised nor does it draw power from the main gear train of the watch. Adjusted to be accurate in six positions, a tremendous 55-hour power reserve rounds off the watch. With a sapphire crystal caseback, it is water-resistant to 3 bar (30m), diameter: 44 mm and available in white gold or rose gold. Photograph © Breguet Blog

Type XXII 10 Hz Flyback chronograph in rose gold, ref. 3880BR shown above. One of the most under-the-radar aviation watches in the world, this dual-time flyback chronograph beats at 72,000 vph to service both home and reference time. A 24-hour indicator assists in tracking two time zones. The result of three years of R&D, Breguet’s Type XXII packs phenomenal horsepower, a 60-minute flyback chronograph and a stopwatch accurate to 1/20th of a second replete with quick-set hour and date – both adjustable forwards and backwards – as well as a stop-seconds function and much more. It is water-resistant to 10 bar (100m), diameter: 44mm. Also available in steel. Photograph © Breguet Blog

Double Tourbillon Classique “Grande Complication” in platinum with pavé diamonds. Two independent tourbillons are affixed by a bridge to a centre plate completing a rotation every 12 hours. It is a spectacular sight to behold. Photograph © Breguet Blog

Répétition Minutes Boutique Edition openworked in rose gold. A fine resonance is the result of the correct tempo. Photograph © Breguet Blog

Répétition Minutes Classique “Grande Complication” in white gold. A tribute to Breguet’s pocket watches, this masterpiece combines the repeater and hand engraving with a perpetual calendar showing the day, date, month, leap year and phases and age of the moon. Photograph © Breguet Blog

Marine GMT wristwatch in steel – effortless, highly versatile and water-resistant to 10 bar (100m). The main time zone has an am/pm indicator and the main dial offers a discrete date window. Handsome guilloché work rounds off this thoroughly modern incarnation of a sports watch that is unmistakably Breguet. Photograph © Watch Club

This Type XX steel chronograph from the mid-90s has developed a handsome patina. The original box and papers are also shown in the photograph. Photograph © Watch Club

The Breguet museum and its President, Marc A. Hayek acquired this superb Type XX steel chronograph created in 1957. It was previously owned by Esso who bought it for the winner of the Monte Carlo Rally in 1959. This historical piece has been purchased during an auction organised by the House Pescheteau-Badin in Paris. Photograph © Breguet Blog

Descriptive text in the photo: “The dashboard chronograph No. 2023 was acquired from Arteurial during the closing auction of the Rétromobile Exhibition, an unmissable event for classic car enthusiasts. The piece, which was originally sold to Bugatti in 1932, belongs to a series of nine car timepieces that Breguet designed specifically for Bugatti. Its chrome-plated metal case measures 67mm in diameter and houses a complication carefully chosen for the automotive industry: a tachymeter scale. Its cream dial, which bears the words “Spécial pour Bugatti”, features the famous blued-steel Breguet hands that were designed in 1783. Chronograph No. 2023 also has a cumulative minutes counter visible in an aperture at 6 o’clock. The timepiece is powered by a mechanical movement with a 8 day power reserve, which is wound using a crown at 6 o’clock.” Photograph © Breguet Blog