For Globetrotters: Breguet Launches Hora Mundi 5555 in Breguet-Gold
250 years after its founding, the Breguet manufacture, now part of the Swatch Group, is launching its fifth anniversary model: the Hora Mundi 5555, which delights with numerous new details and sophisticated craftsmanship.
Incidentally, the name Hora Mundi dates back to 1996, when the first watch bearing this name appeared in the Marine collection. ‘As we wanted to distance ourselves from overly general terms such as GMT or Worldtimer, we opted for the Latin translation of “hours of the world”,’ explains Breguet CEO Gregory Kissling.
In 2011, the Classique Hora Mundi 5717, the actual precursor to today’s Hora Mundi, was launched. It already featured the technical refinements of the instantaneous second time zone with memory function and synchronised displays of the date, day/night indicator, and time zone city. Limited to 50 pieces, the latest version, the Hora Mundi 5555, features a Breguet gold case for the first time. However, the undisputed star is the new, patent-pending dial.
View from space: two-part dial for the Hora Mundi 5555 by Breguet
Through the use of refined artisanal techniques, the dial of this 5th anniversary edition from Breguet appears to be domed with remarkable visual depth. More precisely, one should speak of ‘dials,’ for there are two.
First, there is the guilloché gold dial, which features a colour gradient from sky blue to navy blue with longitude and latitude lines converging at the four cardinal points. This creates the impression of a curve, even though the dial is completely flat. To add depth and aesthetic detail, this guilloché base is covered with an intricately decorated sapphire crystal. Thus, if you take a look at the dial, it feels as if you are looking down on Earth from space.
Enamel painting makes every Hora Muni 5555 unique
In three stages, the flat sapphire crystal dial is painted entirely by hand, turning each of the 50 models of the Hora Mundi 5555 into a unique piece. First, a miniature depiction of the continents is painted on the back of the sapphire crystal and enamelled. Subsequently, a cloud motif is applied to the frontside, which is also fired at high temperatures. While the boundaries of the continents are fixed, the clouds are constantly changing, allowing Breguet’s painters creative freedom. Even at Breguet, not all clouds are the same.
The final step involves adding the city lights that are visible from space. Instead of leaning into the obvious choice of Super-LumiNova, miniature painting with phosphorescent enamel is used for the Hora Mundi 5555. Light-grey Super-LumiNova with blue luminous paint is used elsewhere, namely on the blued gold Roman numerals, the hour indices, the altitude ring and the Breguet hands for hours and minutes with their characteristic ‘pomme’ tips made of 18-carat gold.
Breguet gold for the case of the Hora Mundi 5555
Like the four other anniversary models released to date, Classique Souscription 2025, Tradition 7035, Type XX Chronographe 2075 and Classique Tourbillon Sidéral 7255, the Hora Mundi 5555 features a case made of Breguet gold. The 18-carat precious metal alloy was introduced to mark the brand’s 250th anniversary and shimmers in a subtle shade of rose gold, creating a vintage look. It consists of 75 per cent gold enriched with silver, copper and palladium. This creates a lustre that is resistant to signs of ageing. The case measures 43.9 millimetres in diameter, is 13.8 millimetres high and water-resistant to ten bar. The front is covered by a spherical, double anti-reflective sapphire crystal. The sapphire crystal caseback reveals the mechanical inner workings. The rear view also features the anniversary motif Quai de l’Horloge with curved lines and hand-engraved numbering (No. XX/50) on the caseback’s bezel.
The Breguet calibre 77F1: a movement for globetrotters
As the successor to the 77F0 since 2022, the automatic calibre 77F1 has been delivering a precise performance in the Hora Mundi. Both feature the same functions, such as instant time zone change with memory function, synchronised date, day/night and city disc. With a 55-hour power reserve, the 77F1 is also equipped with a retrograde date display at 12 o’clock.
The movement consists of a total of 384 components and is protected by several patents. It displays the time and date as well as another time/date pair for a freely selectable time zone. The 24 cities that can be set at 6 o’clock represent the respective time zones. Noteworthy are the mechanical memory function for a frequently selected time zone, as well as the instantaneous switching feature. The first city, together with its time and date, is set via the crown at 3 o’clock, while the second city can be selected easily using the pusher at 8 o’clock.
The 77F1 mechanism automatically determines the time and date in this second city using a sophisticated system of cams, hammers, and a differential. The time zone changes immediately without disrupting the watch’s movement. At 4 o’clock, you can see whether it is currently day or night in the time zone displayed. A nice extra: future owners of a Hora Mundi 5555 can have the cities assigned to the 24 time zones personalised individually.
Two straps for the Hora Mundi 5555
The new Hora Mundi comes with two straps: the first is made of navy blue alligator leather with a large scale pattern, lined with navy blue alligator leather with a small scale pattern and fitted with an 18-carat Breguet gold folding clasp. Alternatively, a rubber strap is available.
Price & availability
The 50 copies of the Hora Mundi 5555 are delivered in special ‘250 Years’ red leather packaging, inspired by the red Breguet boxes made of Moroccan leather from the late 18th century. The price is 102,200 euros.
In celebration of its 160th anniversary, Zenith is presenting the Blue Ceramic Chronograph Trilogy – 160th Anniversary Edition, which brings together three of its most significant chronographs: the Chronomaster Sport, the Defy Skyline Chronograph and the Pilot Chronograph. All three models share cases crafted from a blue ceramic developed specifically for the occasion. Among them,…
Frederique Constant is celebrating a double anniversary with greetings from outer space: the brand’s 35th anniversary and the launch of its tourbillon calibre 15 years ago. With its meteorite dial, the Classic Tourbillon Meteorite Manufacture is a cosmic timepiece that showcases the brand's craftsmanship through 35 handmade limited-edition pieces. A rare combination of materials: the case and…
The story of the True Thinline x Great Gardens of the World collection by Rado and the organization Great Gardens of the World is continuing with three new chapters. For the first time in the history of the collaboration, which dates back to 2017, three models with an automatic movement are released as Chapter 8, Chapter 9, and Chapter 10.…
Geneva-based manufacturer Czapek & Cie. is expanding its Antarctique Passage de Drake sports watch collection with two new variants. The model now appears with a dial in the ice blue "Glacier Blue" or in Salmon. According to Czapek, these colors were frequently requested by collectors, which is why the manufacture finally decided to include them…
To celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Paneristi community, Panerai has unveiled the Luminor Venticinque PAM02025. This limited edition (1.000 pieces) watch has just been presented at the P-Day event in Kuala Lumpur on October 4, 2024. The timepiece will then be available to the public in September 2025 with a pre-order period for members…
Wempe and Norqain are introducing the Independence Wild One 42 Signature Collection, a limited-edition sports watch in vibrant turquoise. Created in collaboration with luxury watch and jewellery retailer as part of their Signature Collection series, this exclusive timepiece combines contemporary design with premium materials. With only 50 pieces available, it appeals equally to fans of…
Atelier Greubel Forsey is presenting the third edition of the GMT Earth. While the two predecessors were still made of precious metals, this new version has a titanium case. It features a rotating globe that immediately shows the wearer which hemisphere is in the daytime and which is at night. In addition, the manufacture has…
With the Classics Première Salmon, Frédérique Constant presents a new model that is exclusively available in Europe. The watch features a 38.5 mm stainless steel case and a striking salmon-coloured dial with Arabic numerals. Inside lies the automatic FC-301 calibre, visible through the transparent case back. This timepiece combines traditional watchmaking with contemporary design elements.…
Oris is introducing a limited edition in the form of a new watch with a deep green dial – the Oris Aquis Hangang Limited Edition. The Oris timepiece is helping to support a Seoul-based project to clean up South Korea’s Hangang River. In order to do this, Oris is pairing up with Seoul KFEM, part…
Chopard is introducing a new watch: the L.U.C XP IL Sarto Kiton timepiece. To create the wristwatch, Chopard collaborated with Italian tailor Kiton Ateliers. The ultra-thin creation is limited to 100 pieces and is presented on a slate-coloured cashmere strap lined with red alligator leather. The L.U.C XP IL Sarto Kiton is housed in a…
After much anticipation, OMEGA is releasing its new Speedmaster “Silver Snoopy Award” 50th Anniversary edition. The dial features a blue and white colour scheme, while the unusual caseback takes the OMEGA Speedmaster to a whole new level of design, from the inclusion of a flying Snoopy to a realistic-looking disc of the Earth. The watch…
Hublot has just released a new piece as part of its MP (manufacture piece) collection. This time, the new MP-10 Tourbillon Weight System is not only limited in its production numbers, but also in its presence of traditional timekeeping elements. Conspicuous by their absence are the hands, oscillating weight or even a dial. Case of…
OMEGA introduces the Speedmaster Pilot, a new chronograph inspired by the Flightmaster. This watch pays homage to the brand’s long history with aviation and features a design reminiscent of the 1969 Flightmaster, along with a dial that reflects its military roots. Let’s take a closer look at this new addition to the Speedmaster family. Case…