TRIBUTE TO THE MASTER
As the fall season sets in, the watchmaking brand established in the Joux Valley paid tribute to its founder, whose tradition it faithfully perpetuates, with a piece that is both technically and stylistically extraordinary.
Abraham-Louis Breguet (1747-1823), who settled in France to train as a watchmaker and, more especially, where he developed his rare talent, created his own workshop in 1775 at 39 quai de l’Horloge, on Île de la Cité, at the very heart of Paris. This address which witnessed the birth of the incredible work carried out by the master and the innovations which led the sector to make giant leaps forward is now the inspiration for a sublime creation: the Classique Double Tourbillon 5345 Quai de l’Horloge.
The face of this 46 mm-diameter platinum watch, a totally-transparent work of art, center stages two independent tourbillons, this outstanding regulating device designed and patented by Abraham-Louis Breguet in 1801, which power the platinum baseplate via a central differential. As such, the movement performs a full rotation on itself in 12 hours and each tourbillon boasts its own barrel topped by a curvaceous calligraphically-decorated capital B. The Breguet-style blued-steel hollow moon-tip hour hand is attached to the tourbillon clip whilst the minute hand twirls “traditionally” in time to an hour chapter featuring blue-lacquered Roman numerals.
The hand-wound 588N caliber with its 738 components, delicately openworked and perfectly visible through its glass box and sapphire-crystal caseback, beats at a frequency of 2.5 Hz and delivers a power reserve of 50 hours. It unveils a back boasting a meticulously-carved and engraved illustration: the facade of the building which housed Abraham-Louis Breguet’s workshop with its intricate details. A superbly-stunning sculpture!
Price: CHF628,000 breguet.com
By Sharmila Bertin