In 2005, Breguet launched the Tradition collection of timepieces distinguished by a unique construction; the movement components are showcased on top of the mainplate. This year the watchmaker presents the new Tradition Automatique Seconde Rétrograde 7097 with a blue coloured guilloche dial.
Inspiration
This timepiece is inspired by the subscription watches. It recalls the time when Abraham-Louis Breguet first invented these one-hand pocket watches in 1796. They were fitted with a special movement of great simplicity and sold by subscription; a down payment of a quarter of the price on order and the rest on delivery. A.-L. Breguet used the movements of his subscription watches to create his first tact watches.
Design
The Tradition 7097 pays tribute to the beauty of the calibers of the subscription and tact watches. It reveals the bridges, wheels, escapement, barrel and other components of the movement, which are usually hidden beneath the mainplate. Refined finishing enhances the visual balance displayed by the symmetrical bridges. Furthermore, the bridges and mainplate are decorated to achieve a uniform, finely grained surface, which requires rare skill. The gold winding rotor borrows its shape from historical movements. In addition, the classic clous de Paris (hobnailing) guilloche pattern, done by hand, highlights the blue dial in gold, positioned off-centre at 12 o’clock.
This timepiece gets its name from the retrograde seconds hand at 10 o’clock. Breguet-style open-tipped hands in rhodium-plated steel show the hours and minutes. In order to provide optimum readability and to highlight the retrograde seconds’ complication, Breguet used a semicircle with a circular brushed finish superimposed on the dial. To maintain the symmetry, the pare-chute is located at 4 o’clock. This Breguet invention protects the balance staff from shocks. It can be identified at a glance as the emblematic feature of the Tradition collection. It is the forbear of all the shock-protection mechanisms in use in watch-making today, including the Incabloc system.
Furthermore, the 7097 reference features advanced technology. Its 40mm case houses a movement with an inverted in-line lever escapement with silicon pallets and a silicon Breguet overcoil balance spring that guarantee exceptional precision.
In the end, this Tradition Automatique Seconde Rétrograde 7097 watch is extremely refined. Its style honours the legacy of the Maison, while its technical characteristics are focused on the future of watchmaking.
Technical specifications
| Reference: | 7097BB/GY/9WU |
| Case: | 18-carat white gold with a fluted case-band. Sapphire crystal case-back. 40mm diameter. Welded lugs with screw bars. Water resistant to 3 bar (30m). |
| Dial: | Blue in gold, engine-turned and offset at 12 o’clock. Individually numbered and signed Breguet. Hours chapter with Roman numerals. Retrograde small seconds at 10 o’clock. Breguet open-tipped hands in rhodium-plated steel. |
| Movement: | Self-winding, numbered and signed Breguet. Cal. 505SR1. 141⁄2 lignes. 38 jewels. 50 hours power reserve. Gold winding rotor borrowing its style from Breguet antique watches. Straight-line inverted lever escapement with silicon pallets. Breguet overcoil balance spring in silicon. Balance frequency 3Hz. Adjusted in 6 positions. |
| Strap: | Blue leather |
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