About 220 years ago, Abraham-Louis Breguet received the patent for his invention of the tourbillon. To mark the occasion, the Manufacture presents the Breguet Classique Tourbillon Extra-Plat Anniversaire 5365, a watch that focuses on this achievement and pays homage to the brand’s history with elaborate decorations. In keeping with the total of only 35 tourbillon watches that Abraham-Louis Breguet produced, this anniversary model also appears in an edition of 35 pieces.
Classic Rose Gold Case
The watch has a 41 mm case in rose gold. At the same time, it is extremely flat with a height of 7.08 mm. It is composed of a polished bezel, a finely fluted centre section typical of Breguet, and a polished case back with an exhibition window. In addition, there are welded-on lugs with screwed-in bars. The back also features the limitation number, which ranges from 1/35 to 35/35. Last but not least, the watch withstands only splashing water considering the water resistance of 3 bar or 30 metres.
The Dial of The Breguet Classique Tourbillon Extra-Plat Anniversaire 5365
The dial is made of 18-carat silver-plated gold. Two motifs are guilloched into the blank by hand. In the centre is the “Clou de Paris” pattern, which gives the impression of a matt coating. This is to make it easier to read the two “Pomme” hands made of blued stainless steel. For this purpose, there is also an off-centre hour circle with Roman numerals around the hands. Meanwhile, Breguet decorates the periphery with the “grain d’orge” motif. Finally, the tourbillon additionally serves as a small seconds. It is attached to a bridge of blued stainless steel, which is an unusual execution in the Classique collection. Another special feature is the inscription “Brevet N°157” above the tourbillon, which refers to Breguet’s patent number for the invention.
The Mechanics of The Classique Tourbillon Extra-Plat Anniversaire 5365
Inside the watch, the calibre 581 sets the hands in motion. It has automatic winding via a peripheral platinum oscillating weight. A barrel then stores the energy up to a maximum power autonomy of 80 hours. The tourbillon operates at a high frequency of 4 hertz. Breguet uses silicon for the escapement and the hairspring, which provides protection against magnetism.
The manufacture decorates the movement of the Breguet Classique Tourbillon Extra-Plat Anniversaire 5365 with a faithful reproduction of the watercolour plate that Breguet submitted with his patent application for the tourbillon. The note “Brevet N°157 Du 7 Messidor An IX” on the bridge of the tourbillon also matches this. It refers to the patent number and the corresponding date according to the calendar in effect within France at the time. The barrel also bears the engraving “Anniversaire 1801 – 2021”.
Price & Availability of the Breguet Classique Tourbillon Extra-Plat Anniversaire 5365
The watch comes on a brown leather strap that terminates in a rose gold folding clasp. As a special limited edition model, it is released in a run of 35 pieces. The price of the Breguet Classique Tourbillon Extra-Plat Anniversaire 5365 is 156,200 euros.
The Geneva-based manufacture Vacheron Constantin is presenting a new version of the Traditionnelle Complete Calendar with a case in 18-carat white gold. Previously, the watch was only available in rose gold or as the Excellence Platine Edition with a platinum case. This new Traditionnelle Complete Calendar comes with a slate grey dial that accommodates a…
Over at the Frederique Constant booth at this year's Watches & Wonders trade fair, two watch models are in the limelight: the Classic Date Manufacture and the Classic Moonphase Date Manufacture. Evidently, the Swiss watch brand is using 2024 to draw attention to its flagship and, of course, most classic collection. Classic Date Manufacture: Three…
Swiss manufacture Audemars Piguet is adding a limited edition complicated watch to the Code 11.59 collection. The Audemars Piguet Code 11.59 Flying Tourbillon Chronograph Automatic combines a flying tourbillon with a flyback chronograph. The watch is a limited edition of 50 pieces. The case of the Audemars Piguet Code 11.59 Flying Tourbillon Chronograph Automatic measures…
In recent years, Bulgari’s Octo Finissimo has broken several records. Although there is no new record to celebrate this time, the Italian watch manufacture is adding two new models to its award-winning collection. One of them is the Octo Finissimo Yellow Gold in 18-carat yellow gold, which draws inspiration from the brand's Art Deco watches from the 1930s. The…
The Florentine watchmaker Panerai is introducing the Panerai Luminor Blu Mare 44 mm – PAM01085. The model aims for a hybrid of authentic and avant-garde design. While the new watch also evokes the clean lines of the 90s Luminor models, the name 'Blu Mare' references the brand's marine heritage. Powering it is a mechanical, manually…
The Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Selfwinding Flying Tourbillon Extra-Thin (RD#3) accommodates a flying tourbillon in the slim "Jumbo" case. In order to make this complication possible for the "Jumbo", a completely new movement had to be developed. At the same time, the watchmaker wanted to maintain the classic proportions. At the beginning of the year,…
Just last weekend, the centenary edition of the 24 Hours of Le Mans race took place in northwest France. To celebrate this special anniversary, Rolex, which has been timing this event since 2001, is releasing a new Oyster Perpetual Cosmograph Daytona model with the reference 126529LN. At Watches & Wonders in Geneva two months ago, the brand…
Richard Mille has unveiled the RM 17-02 Tourbillon in titanium. This watch embodies the brand’s philosophy, showcasing a balance between technical innovation and aesthetic appeal. From the robust case to the intricate movement and transparent dial, every aspect of this timepiece reflects Richard Mille’s commitment to quality and performance. Let’s take a closer look at…
Jaeger-LeCoultre’s minute repeater collection is enriched with a model in a new design. The new interpretation of the Master Grande Tradition Grande Complication incorporates two of the most technically challenging complications in horology – a minute repeater and a celestial vault. The complex mechanism is further elevated by an orbital flying tourbillon. Jaeger-LeCoultre offers one…
An interesting story lies behind the Tourbillon Souscription. Despite quietly retiring to the mountains in recent years, watchmaker Daniel Roth was once one of the best-known men of his craft. With names such as Jaeger-LeCoultre and Audemars Piguet under his belt, Roth was an educator as well as an innovator. A major milestone for Roth…
The Swiss watch brand Vacheron Constantin launches a new model expanding the ‘Patrimony Collection’ and completing its midnight blue timepieces introduced on this year’s watch fair SIHH in Geneva. The contemporary style and the pure lines are kept up with the new Patrimony perpetual calendar ultra-thin. Other than that, the calendar function is run by an ultra-thin self-winding movement, that…
With the L.U.C Flying T Twin, the Chopard manufacture is presenting a classic wristwatch with a flying tourbillon. Housed in a flat gold case, it flaunts its deep blue dial with a guilloché pattern. Inside operates an in-house movement that offers both automatic winding via microrotor and a tourbillon stop-seconds mechanism. The watch is a…
At the 2019 watch fair SIHH in Geneva the Florentine brand Panerai added two new models to its collection of their ‘Submersible‘ diving watches. These models have a steel case and are especially attractive to those with a smaller wrist due to their 42 mm diameter case instead of the regular 47 mm. Other than that the…