When he invented the tourbillon, A-L Breguet not only improved the accuracy of pocket-chronometers, he also gave the watchmaking world one of its finest horological devices. Since then, the Breguet company has made it a point of honour to pay tribute to this invention with timepieces each more elegant than the next.
Breguet has designed the reference 5377 Classique Tourbillon extra thin automatic for admirers of this complication who wish to wear as thinner watch.
This 42mm watch has all its identifying attributes as a Breguet product, including its engine-turned dial and open-tipped Breguet hands, welded lugs, fine fluting on the caseband, unique number and secret signature.
This complicated watch is distinguished by its off-centre tourbillon, which is protected by several patents. The tourbillon carriage and the balance are in titanium, the balance-spring is made of silicon and the escapement is in silicon and anti-magnetic steel.
The new Breguet Calibre 581DR fitted into this timepiece beats at 4Hz — a high frequency for a tourbillon — without sacrificing power reserve. The patented “high-energy” barrel provides 90 hours of running time.
To keep the height of the movement down to 3mm in a 7mm thick case, Breguet’s watchmakers have placed the bi-directional platinum winding rotor on the edge of the movement. This new movement, protected by two patents, has been made into a work of art; the fine engraving and superb workmanship can be admired through the sapphire-crystal caseback.
So far as its looks are concerned, the dial juxtaposes the symmetry of lines with the non-symmetrical features. Four engine-turned patterns demonstrate fine workmanship with a hobnail pattern for the hours and minutes chapter, a barleycorn surround, a straight chevron pattern for the power-reserve indicator at 8 o’clock and cross-hatching to outline each feature.
A blue sapphire crowns the centre of the tourbillon bridge to draw the eye down from the hands. The case, on a leather strap, is water resistant to 3 bar (30m).
Technical details
Model: Breguet Classique Tourbillon Extra-Thin Automatic 5377
Ref. 5377BR/12/9WU (in rose gold)
Case
18-carat rose gold with a finely fluted caseband
Sapphire-crystal caseback
42mm diameter
Welded lugs with screw bars
Water resistant to 3 bar (30m)
Dial
18-carat gold, silvered and engine-turned in four different patterns
Individually numbered and signed BREGUET
Hours chapter with Roman numerals
Breguet open-tipped hands in polished steel
Movement
Self-winding extra-thin tourbillon movement
Small seconds on the tourbillon
Numbered and signed BREGUET
Cal. 581DR, 16 lignes, 42 jewels
Power reserve of 90 hours with an indicator at 8:30
Barrel on roller bearings
Lateral lever escapement in silicon and anti-magnetic steel
Silicon balance spring
4Hz frequency
Adjusted in six positions
Strap
Leather strap with a triple-blade folding clasp
Versions
Also available in a platinum case: reference 5377PT/12/9WU.
