Breguet celebrates 225 years since the tourbillon patent

In 2026 it has been 225 years since the tourbillon patent was granted to Abraham-Louis Breguet on 26 June 1801. To mark the anniversary, the manufacture has presented a varied collection with five interpretations of the mechanism.

Breguet's principle was to place the escapement, balance wheel and balance spring inside a rotating cage. By exposing the regulating organ to different vertical positions, the mechanism compensated for the errors caused by gravity and gave a more precise average rate. Between 1796 and 1829, Breguet and his collaborators produced only 40 finished tourbillons, a figure that gives an idea of how complex they were.

The piece that interests me most is the Classique Tourbillon 7357, the most direct link to the house's recent history. It is inspired by the reference 3350 of 1990, considered the first tourbillon wristwatch of the contemporary Breguet. Its case is 35 mm in diameter and 9.2 mm high, with a guilloché gold dial. The new calibre 187B is hand-wound, runs at 2.5 Hz, has 60 hours of power reserve and a silicon escapement, and is derived from the historic calibre 558. It is offered in 950 platinum and in Breguet gold.

The Classique Tourbillon Sidéral 7255, meanwhile, is the first Breguet with a flying tourbillon, supported only from below, and it revives the "mysterious" construction with sapphire gears. Its black aventurine grand feu enamel dial evokes a night sky.

It is a good example of how a complication from the early 19th century still inspires watchmaking today, from faithful reinterpretations to experimental pieces with a 10 Hz tourbillon.

Source: Horas y Minutos