Breguet is a master of engine-turned dials. And they have proven it with the new looks for their Classique 7337 displaying a cornucopia of different techniques on the face of one of their best calendar watches with two new dials in white and ‘Breguet blue’.
For those who are unaware of what guilloche is let us give you a quick run down. Also known as engine-turning it is a decorating technique that uses a rose engine and requires years of training to master the simplest of patterns. This is not a CNC machine carving out patterns at the click of a button but rather a machine guided by a skilled craftsman that can create a myriad of styles and designs on to a watch dial and movement components.
Here Breguet are really flexing their engine-turning muscles by displaying three different styles on the dial and two more on the movement visible through the sapphire caseback.
While these contrasting patterns and designs are extremely pleasing to the eye there is also a practical reason behind the grooves and bumps as they help distinguish between the different sections on the dial. With the circular grain d’orge (or barley grain) going around the outside of the chapter ring and then the more straight up and down Clous de Paris hobnailing in the centre and finally the damier (or checkerboard) for the small seconds dial down at five o’clock.
All of these patterns enable the eye to pick up each part of the dial easily inside the 39mm case. With a white dialed version available in a rose gold case (ref. 7337BB/Y5/9VU) and a more modern blue dial in a white gold (ref. 7337BR/15/9VU). This might just be an update in dial from the master watchmakers but it is a thing of beauty in a time when I think we could all do with a little distraction.
Price & Specs:
Model Name: Breguet Classique 7337
Ref: 7337BB/Y5/9VU (white gold); 7337BR/15/9VU (pink gold)
Case/Dial: 39mm diameter x 9.9mm thickness, 18k white or rose gold
Water resistance: 30m
Movement: Calibre 502.3 QSE1, automatic, decorated with côtes de Genève
Functions: Date, day, and moon phases
Frequency: 21,600 vph (3 Hz)
Power reserve: 45h
Strap: Alligator leather
Price: TBC
More details at Breguet’s website.
