3947 Breguet Classique Rattrapante

Rattrapantes aren’t easy, that should be self-evident. But only two manufactures have attempted to coax a Lemania 2310 ébauche, or 2320 (rather as it’s the two-counter version) here, to split seconds: Patek Philippe in the 5004 and Breguet. Everyone knows the 5004 and its Lemania-based beauty, a monumental achievement. Yet Breguet, who achieved the same lofty aim, are usually forgotten. This is the 3947 (later renamed ref. 5947 with a split pusher integrated into the crown rather than upper left case), a split seconds from Roth in the Chaumet era which is the only Lemania 2310 split seconds that can said to be reasonably aspired toward by mere mortals.

Interestingly, Breguet encountered the very same issue that Patek Philippe did in their reworking the 2310 architecture: dreaded rattrapante drag. Left untreated, this engagement friction would slow the chronograph seriously upon split engagement. Patek Philippe solved this with an ingenious octopus-shaped isolator mechanism, a trick bit of watchmaking. As it happened, Roth already had an isolator waiting in the wings. Not from Breguet, then a new endeavor, but Frédéric Piguet, who they had purchased with Blancpain in 1992 for 60 million CHF. F. Piguet had made the world’s first vertical clutch for the 1185 and shortly after in 1988 they had reworked it into a rattrapante. That calibre 1181 (or 1186 as an auto) in 1988 incorporated the world’s very first isolator. While many think Breguet were cribbing Patek Philippe’s homework in the 5004, in fact it might have been the other way around. And it’s 1/10th the cost of a 5004.

The 3947 is one of the ultimate incarnations of the split seconds post quartz crisis, one of the most handsome 90s chronographs to get zero credit whatsoever, really. It marked the height of Swatch group’s interdisciplinary efforts, this was Hayek’s cross-pollination in full force. It was no small secret that Breguet was the crown jewel in Hayek’s portfolio, a favorite child. That respect shined through in the way he respected Breguet aesthetic sense: Clous de Paris guilloché gold dial, 38mm straight-lug case, blued steel hands, and an individual numbering of each example in series. Plus, by this point, Breguet actually owned Lemania fully; to the extent that it matters, which is very little, this was a fully ‘in-house’ effort. The 3947 and 5947 should have a great historic weight associated with them as the second ever 2310 split seconds to exist, in the same way that Breguet could be the greatest watchmaker today with the series of firsts and accomplishments in the early days of watchmaking that no marque can rival. Neither this split seconds nor Breguet are where they should be today. But, for those of us who appreciate history, both are almost more special because of it.

Nothing stands out on this yellow gold example, it’s great. No visible large marks on case, deep engravings. It comes from a well-regarded US retailer, watch only.