3947 Breguet Classique Rattrapante

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…

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3137 Breguet Classique Power Reserve Moonphase, White Gold

3137-Breguet-Classique-Calendar-Moonphase

Nicolas Hayek always adored Breguet. Throughout his tenure, that respect showed through in a refusal to modernize or cheapen the watchmaking. Breguet under his guidance simply continued with the Roth legacy, and some of those references are worth looking more closely. This is the 3137, a Power Reserve Moonphase that is nearly identical to Chaumet-era…

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3357 Breguet Classique Tourbillon

3357-Breguet-Classique-Tourbillon

Swatch Group haven’t managed to fuck up every one of their brands just yet. The day a Swatch x Breguet ‘collab’ arrives will be the day I lose faith in modern mainstream watchmaking. Some things weren’t meant to be distilled. Breguet stands for watchmaking quality above all else. Even if a tourbillon has never made…

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3057 Breguet Classique Perpetual Calendar

3057-Breguet-Classique-Perpetual-Calendar

The dial says Breguet, but really this QP is a Daniel Roth, the first creative project he undertook after working for JLC and AP. And this ref. 3057 is indicative of truth that is not logical but seems to hold: the very start of a creative career is often where the most magic occurs. Einstein…

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3057 Breguet Classique Perpetual Calendar

Breguet-Classique-Perpetual-Calendar-3057

There seems to be some magic about the inception of a career. Let me explain. Einstein invented the theory of relativity at 26, writing his seminal paper shortly after graduating while working in the Swiss Patent Office. Brandon Flowers of The Killers wrote Mr. Brightside at 22, two years after the Band formed. Zuckerberg created…

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5175 Breguet Classique ‘Ginza Anniversary’

5175-Breguet-Classique-Ginza-Anniversary

With collector attention so heavily focused on Roth’s Breguet era, it’s easy to overlook the fact that, actually, Hayek-Swatch era Breguet didn’t just fold. Look at the 7727 and its incredibly innovative magnetic pivots, allowing the balance to float in artificial gravity. I truly believe AL Breguet would have been proud to have that under…

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3050 Breguet Classique Perpetual Calendar

3050-Breguet-Classique-Perpetual-Calendar

Few collections from any manufacture are capable of rivaling the Classique’s height of restrained design sense, traditional finishing, impressive watchmaking, or value. Most will be aware by now that this accomplished range was spearheaded by a young Daniel Roth. In 1973, Roth set about bringing a perpetual calendar back to Breguet. Most will know the…

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5237 Breguet Classique Chronograph in WG

5237-Breguet-Classique-Chronograph

In 1970, the Chaumet brothers were hired to bring Breguet back to their former glory. One of the longest running and most historically significant manufactures of all time (ever heard of the Breguet hairspring or overcoil?), Breguet was to be made the high-end name in Switzerland once again by new investment. The brothers hired a…

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3310 Breguet Classique Perpetual Calendar

3310-Breguet-Classique-Perpetual-Calendar

Classique Breguet is increasingly a category its own today. Few collections from any manufacture are capable of rivaling the Classique’s height of restrained design sense, traditional finishing, impressive watchmaking, or value. Most will be aware by now that this accomplished range was spearheaded by a young Daniel Roth. Directly after joining the Chaumet brothers in…

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