Breguet was founded in 1775 by Abraham-Louis Breguet. Abraham was a Swiss watchmaker who was born in January of 1747 in Neuchâtel, Switzerland. Breguet’s father’s died in 1758. Some years later, Abraham’s mother remarried to Joseph Tattet. Tattet came from a family of watchmakers. They moved to Paris where they had a showroom. The family tried to draw Abraham into the trade. Eventually he found interest and in 1762 he was sent to be apprenticed to a Versailles master watchmaker. Abraham studied watchmaking for 10 years under Ferdinand Berthoud and Jean-Antoine Lépine before setting up his own watchmaking business in Paris, France. The business was a success. Breguet made three series of watches, and the highest numbering of the three reached 5120. It is estimated that his shop produced around 17,000 timepieces during Breguet’s life. Because of his minute attention to detail and his constant experimentation, no two Breguet pieces are exactly alike.
His achievements soon attracted a wealthy and influential clientele: Louis XVI and his Queen Marie-Antoinette, Louis XVIII, Napoleon Bonaparte, and the 1st Duke of Wellington to name a few. In 1783, Breguet invented the gong spring for the minute repeater. He also designed the famous open-tipped hands known as “Breguet hands” and Breguet’s Arabic numerals. Later, in 1789, he invented the ratchet key known as the “Breguet key” which allows the escapement to work without oil.
In 1807, he took on his son Louis-Antoine as his partner, renaming the firm “Breguet et Fils” (Breguet and Sons). Louis-Antoine took over the firm upon the death of his father in 1823. After a couple of generations taking over the business, Abraham-Louis’ great-grandson, Louis Antoine (1851-1882) was the last of the Breguet family to run the business. The Breguet company hired English watchmaker Edward Brown to manage the factory. Brown eventually became a partner and, after Breguet’s grandson’s death, the owner and head of the company.
Breguet’s innovative spirit has contributed to creating several inventions that has helped time measuring science to improve. Its amazing 7727 piece was awarded the “Aiguille d’Or” (golden hand) at the 2014 “Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève”.
Over the last ten years, the brand has filed for the patent of more than 100 products. These are mostly related to improving chronometry and the regulation of striking mechanisms. This is a war against magnetism and watchmaking has always struggled to eliminate the magnetic flow of its timepieces since it is highly prone to impair mechanisms.
Breguet’s innovative approach, which included pushing analysis as far as possible, surprisingly created the now-famous magnetic pinion that turns while levitating in the watch without impairing the movements’ running in any way. To top it off, itis scratch-resistant. And with its patent of November 7, 2010 for a magnetic pivot, the brand wrote a new page in watchmaking history by blending the effects of magnetism to improve the precision and the reliability of its timepieces. The Breguet Classique Chronométrie 7727 model shows that the company has reached its objectives and set a new level in the search for perfection.
The Classique Chronométrie 7727, available in rose or white gold is equipped with the 574DR caliber. This is a new hand-wound mechanical movement that makes the most of the manufacture’s recent innovations to reveal exceptional running results. This prowess was first made possible thanks to a 10 Hz frequency, which was used in the Type XXII chronograph for the first time. The frequency proved that it could improve the chronometric performances of the spring balance.
Breguet’s expertise in the use of silicon has allowed for a double balance-spring, a lever and a silicon escapement wheel to be specifically created for the “Classique Chronométrie”. These enabled the piece to reach high frequency and to obtain maximum precision.
The result is a regulating power equivalent to around 830 microwatts, an achievement when one considers that the regulating capacity of the best chronometers is between 300 and 400 microwatts. Despite its high frequency, the reference 7727 has a power reserve of 60 hours thanks not only to the energy stored in its barrels, but also to the very high quality of its balance.
However, the major innovation of this Classique Chronométrie model is without doubt the use of magnetic pivots. It is likely that the impact of this invention will not be felt for a few years yet. With the magnetic pivot, Breguet not only controls the negative effects of magnetism in a watch, but also uses magnetic force to improve the pivoting, rotation and stability of the balance staff. Breguet’s watchmakers have designed a stable system using two endstones incorporating powerful micro-magnets (approx. 1.3 teslas) that keep the balance staff centred and self-adjusting.
Stylistic details unfailingly denote a work by Breguet. The dial is engine-turned in six different patterns: “Geneva waves” in the centre, a hobnail pattern for the small seconds, sunrays on the tenth-of-a-second dial and chevrons for the power-reserve indicator. The hours chapter is cross-hatched while a barleycorn pattern decorates the outer edge. The case in rose or white gold displays delicate fluting. The welded lugs, the unique number and the secret signature complete the marks of the watch’s pedigree.
Classique Chronométrie wristwatch in 18-carat white gold. High-frequency escapement (10Hz) composed of a magnetic balance with double balance spring, lever and escape wheel in silicon. Hand-wound movement with running seconds. 1/10th of a second subdial and power reserve indicator. Silvered gold dial, hand-engraved on a rose engine. Blued steel Breguet hands with “apple” tip. Minute markers around the outer rim. Sapphire caseback. Water-resistant to 3 bar (30m). Diameter 41mm.
