Last week, haute horologerie watchmaker Breguet unveiled the first of its 2020 releases, which include updates to the traditional-focused Classique collection. The updates include two new colorways for its 7337 and 7137 references, one with a new white-gold case and “Breguet” blue dial option, the other with a rose-gold case and silver dial combination. Like all models in the Classique line, each of the new watches use the collection’s standard features — straight, slim lugs; printed Roman numerals for hour markers; and open-tipped Breguet hands to produce a classical luxury styling.
The Classique 7137 (Ref. 7137BB/Y5/9VU) is a 39-mm slim watch, elegantly polished and featuring a small signed crown on the right side. The highly decorated dial bears intricate details and features. The outer edge uses applied metal dots for its minute ring, punctuated at each hour. Within this border are the collection’s black printed Roman numerals, while a central clous de Paris pattern is used to break up the brushed outer portions of the dial. Toward the bottom of the dial is an analog date indicator highlighted by a damier checkerboard pattern, while the power-reserve indicator in the top left features a panier maillé basket-weave pattern. A moon-phase and age indicator (which tells you the phase of the moon over the course of the month) helps balance out the face, located at the top right.
The 7137 takes its direct inspiration from Breguet’s Pocket Watch No. 5 (above), produced by Breguet from 1794 to 1815, a renowned historical pocketwatch that Breguet still manufacturers today as a replica, priced at a cool $1.8 million. The design elements are seen clearly through the aesthetic of the 7137, though the modern watch clearly differentiates itself with the modern elegance and complications that some 200-plus years of watch design evolution allows.
Inside the 7137 is the extra-thin Breguet Caliber 502.3 DR1., which is visible via a sapphire caseback. The self-winding movement’s enlarged gold micro-rotor boasts exquisite, engine-turned finishing. Its technical highlights include a 45-hour power reserve, a reverse in-line lever escapement with silicon horns, and a flat balance spring made of silicon.
Moving to the Classique 7337, we find a model similar to the 7137, albeit distinguished by a different dial configuration and features. Like the 7137, the 7337 features a 39-mm gold case with straight, round-edged lugs, fluted sides, and a small crown. On its engine-turned dial, we find a moon-phase and age indicator, while a date indicator is rests at the 2 o’clock position, parallel to an accompanying day indicator. The rest of the dial layout is comprised of a smaller subdial for the hours and minutes, with a clous de Paris-pattered subdial within its border for the running seconds.
Inside the 7337 is the caliber 502.3 QSE1, a very similar movement to the caliber 502.3 DR1 seen on the previous model complete with its excellent hand finishing. The mechanism is also capable of a 45-hour power reserve and uses the same silicon features.
The Classique 7337 will retail at $43,000 and 7137 will retail a few thousand below at $40,000, with both expected to be available sometime later this year.
