TIME, THE MOON AND GUILLOCHÉ ENGRAVING
The art of guilloché engraving, a bona fide expression of creativity, reigns supreme on four new references in Breguet’s Classique collection, where two models adorn blue… Breguet blue!
Sometime around 1786, Abraham-Louis Breguet (1747-1823) introduced guilloché engraving to the faces of his timepieces. For sure this art form was incredibly ornate yet above all extremely practical: make it easier to view information on a watch dial by outlining reading zones using different engraved designs. Guilloché engraving, which would go on to become a visual signature, prevails in Breguet’s contemporary collections, as seen in the new Classique 7137 and Classique 7337 equipped with a moon phase indicator.
The blue-topped golden faces showcase different patterns delicately sculpted into the material with a rose engine or a straight line machine. Each pattern corresponds to a feature: mesh basket weave on the power reserve indicator (ref. 7137), checkerboard for the hand-skimmed date (ref. 7137) and the small seconds (ref. 7337), barleycorn (ref. 7337) and clous de Paris on the central disc of these two Classique models. The silver-colored full-, semi- or quarter-circle rings, which boast Roman numerals displaying time and Arabic ones for the moon age and the date, are decorated with fine circular striations. The hours and minutes, hovered over by a pair of hollow moon-tip Breguet hands, are slightly offset towards 6 o’clock on the Classique 7337. This model also hosts two bean-shaped apertures proposing the day of the week at 10 o’clock and the date at 2 o’clock.
Both models are set in an identical 39 mm-diameter white gold case with fluted caseband which embraces the automatic 502.3 caliber and deliver a power reserve of 45 hours. It is complemented by a blue alligator strap attached by a white gold folding clasp.
Price: CHF39,000 (ref. 7137) – CHF42,000 (ref. 7337) breguet.com
By Sharmila Bertin