A Breguet tourbillon wristwatch is maybe essentially the most tourbillon of all tourbillons. Founder Abraham-Louis Breguet patented the mechanism in 1801, in spite of everything. A gem-set tourbillon wristwatch, such because the Classique Tourbillon 3358 provides an opulent dimension that reminds us all that the watchmaker as soon as served each the Capetian and Bonaparte dynasties. Revealed late final 12 months, this watch is a blinding fusion of technical ingenuity and excessive jewelry craftsmanship, paying homage to the legacy of Breguet and to revolutionary spirit (in a number of senses of that phrase). The press launch from present-day Breguet even goes as far as to recommend that reference 3358 is a murals, however that’s as much as you, pricey reader.
On the coronary heart (right here at 6 o’clock) of the Classique Tourbillon 3358 is the tourbillon, which evens out timekeeping fee errors brought on by gravity’s affect on the hairspring. On this newest creation, the tourbillon is a part of Breguet’s in-house calibre 187D, a manually wound motion assembled from 187 meticulously crafted elements (no indication that the calibre title is a reference to the variety of elements). Working at a frequency of two.5 Hz or 18,000 vibrations per hour (vph), the motion exemplifies the normal watchmaking values of the model; this calibre, additionally in use in different Classique references, doesn’t depend on a silicon hairspring.
The design of the 3358 is as arresting as its engineering. Housed in a white gold case, the watch is lavishly set with diamonds, imbuing it with an aura of refined opulence. The dial, additionally in white gold, is reworked right into a luminous canvas by the appliance of 281 brilliant-cut diamonds (utilizing the signature “snow- setting” approach for the subdial at midday). This intricate technique, which arranges the diamonds in exact, overlapping rows, offers the subdial a shimmering high quality paying homage to a starlit sky. The off-centred hour ring long-established from pure white mother-of-pearl, accented by black Breguet numerals and complemented by open-tipped palms in blued metal, ensures each readability and aesthetic stability.
The fluted crown, adorned with a rose-cut diamond, additional underscores the mannequin’s luxurious particulars, whereas a sapphire crystal case again with an anti-reflective coating protects and showcases the intricately adorned motion inside.
In a market like Singapore, the place precision and aesthetics are each prized, the Classique Tourbillon 3358 units a brand new customary. By marrying historic significance with modern design, Breguet has as soon as once more created a timepiece that not solely pays tribute to the genius of Abraham-Louis Breguet however demonstrates the opposite core competencies of the modern model.
Motion: Handbook calibre 187D with tourbillon; 50-hour energy reserve
Case: 35mm in white gold (gem-set bezel, lugs and crown); water resistant to 30m
Strap: Blue leather-based
Value: USD 248,000
This story was first seen on WOW #76 Spring 2025 Challenge
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