Breguet refreshes the timeless Classique 7337 and Dame 8068.
Breguet’s brand DNA dates back to the company’s origins, and the Classique line of watches encapsulate this perfectly. The brand’s love story with its proprietary code, the guillochage, or engine turning forte, endures to the present day, evident even when two evergreen timepieces in the brand’s family of Classiques – the 7137 and 7337 – were renewed two years ago. The refreshed 2022 versions of the Classique 7337 and Dame 8068 continue to embody the true traditions of Breguet.
The New Classique Calendar 7337
Channelling the aesthetic of historic pocket watches created under the direction of Breguet’s founder, Abraham-Louis Breguet and his son, the first interpretation of the Classique 7337 wristwatch emerged in 2009, sporting off-centre dials – a major stylistic innovation in certain pocket watches in the 19th century. Come 2022, the style is renewed to reflect a contemporary elegance while remaining faithful to thepowerful signatures of the Classique line.
Resolutely modern without compromising its aesthetic origins, Breguet’s expertise in decorative detail is present throughout the watch. An intricate Clous de Paris hobnail guilloche pattern, hand-engraved on a rose engine by in-house artisans, adorns the new 7337’s off-centred dial, accompanied by a circular barleycorn motif on the outer dial. In a display of impressive realism, the moon phase at 12 o’clock features a hand-hammered gold moon surrounded by clouds with a matte texture achieved with a fine sandblasted treatment. The “sky” is coated with a blue lacquer composed of spangles subtly revealing the stars when viewed from different angles, and correspond with the traditional blued steel open-tipped Breguet hands indicating the hours, minutes and seconds. The date and day windows, placed at 2 and 10 o’clock, are updated with a broad aperture to enhance readability.
Inside and out, the new Classique Calendar 7337 shines. The 39mm 18K white or rose gold case, houses the Calibre 502, one of Breguet’s thinnest movements at just 2.4 mm thick and with a 45-hour power reserve. Slender yet powerful, the 7337 has an open barrel that ensures continual energy and performance. Oscillating at a frequency of 3 Hz, its oscillating weight is off-centred to offer maximum space for the main movement elements and is thus integrated within a minimum thickness. This rhodium-plated self-winding movement consists of 236 components and equipped with a silicon balance-spring as well as an escapement featuring an inverted straight-line pallet-lever with silicon horns. The use of silicon makes the timepiece resistant to corrosion and wear, and allows it to remain insensitive to the influence of magnetic fields while improving precision.
This remarkable movement can be observed through the sapphire case back – the white gold oscillating weight is hand-engraved on a rose engine with a circular barleycorn pattern while the other components are graced with chamfered finishes and a Côtes de Genève motif. To round off the good looks of this new Classique, the white gold model sports an alligator leather strap in midnight blue while the rose gold version is complemented with a beautiful brown alligator leather strap.
The new Classique Dame 8068
Smaller in size yet no less impressive is the new style variation of the Classique Dame 8068. This stylish powerhouse features a rapid interchange system that allows the wearer to swap straps easily without any tools. Pressing the pusher located under the strap enables the user to lift up, remove and replace it with one of the two other straps, each fitted with a gold buckle. One click is all it takes – position the slot on the far end of the strap level with the lugs, in a 45-to-60-degree position, before clicking it into place to fasten it firmly.
For the first time in the Breguet collections, three interchangeable straps are offered in the same boxed set. A few seconds is all it takes to swap a black satin fabric strap with a colourful alligator leather strap: teal blue and Byzantium purple accompany the white gold version; and peacock blue and raspberry pink are paired with the rose gold iterations.
Besides the versatility in style offered by the interchangeable straps, the dial of the new Classique Dame 8068 is also renewed – the mother-of-pearl dial is adorned with a very fine guilloché pattern handcrafted by the Manufacture’s artisans. To bring a light visual touch, Breguet’s signature Arabic numerals now compose the chapter ring, while a subtle oval cartouche bearing the brand logo appears at 12 o’clock. The crown, initially offered with a blue sapphire, is replaced with a cabochon-cut diamond that complements a bezel and lugs set with 64 brilliant-cut diamonds on a 30mm case. The case is water-resistant to 3 bar (30 m) and features a sapphire back that displays Breguet’s cherished decorative skills such as chamfering and the Côtes de Genève motif that embellishes various movement components.
At its heart beats the Calibre 537/3 with its 191 components, and running on a 45-hour power reserve. The platinum oscillating weight is hand-engraved on a rose engine with a circular barleycorn pattern, and oscillates at a frequency of 3.5 Hz. The rhodium-plated self-winding movement is equipped with an in-line Swiss lever escapement and a silicon balance spring resistant to corrosion and wear, and oblivious to the influence of magnetic fields, enhancing precision.
Demonstrating the perfect balance of modernity and tradition with their contemporary interpretation of the signature codes, the new additions to the Classique family of watches faithfully illustrates the strong aesthetic of the brand’s origins.
Images courtesy of Breguet, artwork by Curatedition. All rights reserved.
Related Links:
The Breguet House of Heritage
Breguet Classiques: Romancing History
