Baselworld 2018 is a mere three weeks away. And while it’s been reported that the fair will host fewer exhibitors and run for a shorter amount of days than previous editions, Baselworld is still the watch industry’s leading exhibition. With top brands like Rolex, Patek Philippe, and Omega still choosing to unveil their annual novelties at the vast halls in Basel, Switzerland, Baselworld is an exciting time for anyone who’s into fine timepieces. Just ahead of the famous trade show, Breguet has offered a preview of one of their new models that will make its official debut at Baselworld 2018. Let’s find out more.
Breguet Classique Collection
As its name implies, the Classique collection from Breguet celebrates luxury watches that adhere to a classic aesthetic and pay homage to the brand’s traditions. And for manufacture Breguet, that’s an important approach since its founder, Abraham-Louis Breguet, was so significant to watchmaking.
Considered the grandfather of horology, not only was Abraham-Louis Breguet behind some of the most famous mechanical inventions such as the tourbillon, but he was also behind specific design traits that are still a big part of luxury watches today. Without him, there wouldn’t be the ubiquitous Breguet numerals and Breguet hands used by dozens of other fine watchmakers. And the new Classique Tourbillon Extra-Plat Automatique 5367 boasts all three of these Breguet inventions—the tourbillon, the hands, and the numerals.
Classique Tourbillon Extra-Plat Automatique 5367
The Classique Tourbillon Extra-Plat Automatique—translated as “classic tourbillon extra-thin automatic”—has been a Breguet mainstay since 2013. However, the new 2018 ref. 5367 comes with a “grand feu” enamel dial. Furthermore, fans of the Classique Tourbillon Extra-Plat Automatique will also note that the power indicator that graces the dial of previous versions has been left out of this new edition. This Pre-Baselworld display is truly a beautiful timepiece, but it is not the only watch we have our eyes on this year.
As a result, what remains is a clean stark white dial setting the stage for the familiar Breguet numerals, the blue Breguet hour and minute open-tipped hands, and the off-centered tourbillon making its complete revolution every minute. Interestingly, the minute track is also slightly off-centered, leaning to the left—a design first proposed by Abraham-Louis Breguet over two hundred years ago.
The elegant face of the Breguet ref. 5367 is housed within a 42mm 18k rose gold round case, which measures a mere 7mm thick. While this is not the thinnest automatic tourbillon timepiece in the world, it’s still incredibly slim and an example of Breguet’s masterful skill. Furthermore, when we look at the watch case from the side, we see the fluting detail—yet another Breguet signature design trait. Completing the look of the elegant Breguet timepiece is a brown alligator strap, perfectly complementary to the rose gold hue of the case.
Breguet Caliber 581
The transparent caseback of the new Breguet Classique Tourbillon Extra-Plat Automatique ref. 5367 gives us a view of the automatic Breguet Caliber 581 movement powering the watch. Despite its thinness at just 3mm thick, the movement offers an impressive 80 hours of power reserve with a frequency rate of 4Hz.
In true Breguet fashion, the caliber is sumptuously decorated, hand-engraved, and dotted with jewels (42 in total). The complexity and embellishment of the movement is a striking contrast to the relatively minimalistic style of the dial.
If the Breguet Classique Tourbillon Extra-Plat Automatique ref. 5367 is a taste of what’s to come, we look forward to seeing what other novelties Breguet will present at Baselworld 2018.
What do you think of the new Pre-Baselworld 2018 Breguet watch? Do you like the simplicity of this dial or do you prefer the more ornate hand guilloché dial of previous Breguet Classique Tourbillon Extra-Plat Automatique editions? Let us know in the comment section below.
