Gif experiment - Breguet!
Alright, I'm trialling out gifs on WatchCrunch! Where better to start than with Breguet. One of the greatest watchmakers in history and a brand that just oozes class. There are so many details in the finishing and design with these watches that I had to try and get them in motion!
The Tradition. Absolutely incredible watch. Only a rotor is visible through the caseback. Everything is happening on the dial. Such a beautifully finished watch. 100% the Breguet I'd buy if my lottery ticket comes through. The guilloché on the time dial is so intricately done. The sales manager at Breguet explained to us that anything you see on a Breguet that can be finished by hand, will be, within reason. It's almost like holding a piece of art or a sculpture. You're equal parts amazed and terrified of dropping it. So many hours have gone into each one.
The Marine. Breguet's go at a modern, marine chronometer (they still supply marine chronometers to the Marine Nationale [French Navy]). This was an odd one. A wave dial that makes the Seamaster dial look a little rushed, with a lug to lug and end links that make a modern Seamaster look positively svelte. Quite a chunky one but if you want your chronographs to come with hand finishing and 'all the shiny bits' then you could do far worse.
The Tourbillon Messidor. Abraham-Louis invented the tourbillon in 1801. Here's the 40mm rose gold equivalent on the wrist! An incredibly special piece, you'd be starting conversations with 5 year olds to 95 year olds with this. So much going on but all done with care. Also available with a gold or platinum bracelet if you go that way!
Finally, no gif, but the Double Tourbillon. One tourbillon counts the hours as both make a full rotation around the dial over 12 hours. This is altogether quite mad. I love them for it. Even the case back...my word. They've engraved a galaxy of details on there.
I have absolutely no idea how anyone tells the time on a Breguet. I'd just be sat gawking at everything moving around to remember what I'd just read!
Bonus magazine and mints!
Irish watch enthusiast in London.
One of the most stunning watches I’ve seen on this platform in weeks.
Breguet is such an amazing brand. The people working for Breguet are not only watchmakers, they are artisans.
One of the most stunning watches I’ve seen on this platform in weeks.
Breguet is such an amazing brand. The people working for Breguet are not only watchmakers, they are artisans.
Thanks, I’m lucky to be able to have so many brands on my doorstep! Trying my best to democratise what’s here a bit and share it more widely.
Totally agree with you. Artisan is the perfect word. It felt to me like a top tier sports team. Everyone there is at the peak of their career, with Breguet feeling like the legacy team that every hotshot wants to play for at some point.
#breguet deserves more accolades and more respect from the community. A-L Breguet has contributed greatly to the collective know-how in watchmaking. What other brand do you know has eponymous numerals or hands?
#breguet deserves more accolades and more respect from the community. A-L Breguet has contributed greatly to the collective know-how in watchmaking. What other brand do you know has eponymous numerals or hands?
Great point there on the hands and numerals!
I’ve wracked my brain there and I’ve gone through leaf, dauphine, spade, surgical and cathedral there in my head. No brand names there. Even a Submariner doesn’t have Rolex hands, it has Mercedes hands.
Tudor comes close with snowflake hands, in that they’re ubiquitous to Tudor. They’re not called Tudor hands though are they?
Numerals is where it gets really impressive. Arabic, Roman, Eastern Arabic…I can’t think of anything that gets anywhere near close to a brand name. Imagine a brand nowadays having numerals so iconic they get named after them.
Looks like quite a visit! That double tourbillon is awesome.