LYRICAL EXPERIENCE

This model perpetuates the tradition of expertise at Breguet. Noble materials set off a flagship complication providing crystal-clear chimes whenever you wish.

The minute repeater, a complication first developed in the 18th century, tells you what time it is without you having to looking at the watch and even in the dark. How does it work? A press on a dedicated monopusher launches a sound mechanism with three different tones. The watch then chimes the hour, the quarter hour and the minutes. So when it is 2.37, you will hear two deep chimes, followed by two tones with a different sound and finally seven higher-pitched chimes. The world has changed a good deal since its invention, but this watch complication still symbolises excellence and is a much sought-after prize among fans of luxury watches. The complication is only made by a handful of firms, including Breguet, which is perpetuating expertise developed by the brilliant French-based watchmaker of the same name. The Classique Grande Complication 7637 epitomises this tradition. On the dial, we find all the brand’s signature elements, such as the blued “moon” tip hands above a hand-engraved silver guilloché dial with a chapter ring featuring Roman numerals. Two time indications round off the display: at 3 o’clock, a 24-hour disc with a day/night indicator, and at 9 o’clock, a running seconds sub-dial.

Turning the watch over, you can see the hand-decorated and engraved hand-wound movement through the sapphire caseback (40 hours of power reserve).

Price: 230,400 EUR breguet.com

By Dan Diaconu