In 2005, the House of Breguet launched the Tradition collection of timepieces distinguished by a unique construction: the movement components are showcased on top of the mainplate. This year a new design version of the Tradition Automatique Seconde Rétrograde 7097 with a blue colored guilloche dial is available.
The Tradition 7097 pays tribute to the beauty of the calibers of the subscription and tact watches by revealing 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. The bridges and mainplate are decorated to achieve a uniform, finely grained surface. The gold winding rotor borrows its shape from historical movements while the classic Clous de Paris (hobnail) guilloche pattern, executed by hand, highlights the blue dial in gold, positioned off-center at 12 o'clock.
This timepiece gets its name from the retrograde seconds hand at 10 o'clock. The hours and minutes are shown by Breguet-style open-tipped hands in rhodium-plated steel. In order to provide optimum readability and to highlight the retrograde seconds' complication, Breguet watchmakers 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, which protects the balance staff from shocks, 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.
Technical Specifications:
The case, in 18kt white gold, measures 40mm. It has double sapphire crystals and it is water resistant to 30 meters. It features a fluted caseband and welded lugs with screw bars.
Movement is the Swiss automatic Breguet in-house caliber 505SR1 with 38 jewels, 21,600 vph and a power reserve of 50 hours. It features a gold rotor styled opn Breguet antique watches. Straight-line inverted lever escapement with silicon pallets. Breguet overcoil balance spring in silicon. It is adjusted to 6 positions.
Blue dial 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.
It comes on a blue leather strap with an 18kt white gold buckle.
Exclusively available at Breguet boutiques.
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