Breguet debuts its first flying tourbillon
The date June 26 is significant for Breguet, as it marks the very day in 1801 that Abraham-Louis Breguet received the patent for what is perhaps his most famous invention—the tourbillon. The gravity-cancelling mechanism remains one of the most complex complications today, a feat mastered by a few, and certainly none with the same gravitas as Breguet. So it was surprising to learn Breguet had never done a flying tourbillon—until now.
The flying tourbillon is a variation of the complication in which the rotation cage is mounted only on a lower bridge below to create the illusion that it is floating. Traditional tourbillons also have an upper bridge. As part of its ongoing 250th anniversary celebration, Breguet has developed its first flying tourbillon in the Classique Classique Tourbillon Sidéral 7255. Its lower bridge is made of sapphire glass, enhancing its “invisibility”.
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“The tourbillon model we chose to reinterpret is no ordinary one: among the tourbillon movements in Breguet’s archives, it is the one used in the very first Breguet tourbillon wristwatch, unveiled in 1990 under reference 3350.”
By - Gregory Kissling, CEO of Breguet
The Classique Tourbillon Sidéral 7255 is created as part of Breguet’s 250th anniversary celebration
To make things more interesting, Breguet has also incorporated its mysterious complication. Often employed for the hands, it consists of attaching the rotating organ to the rest of the movement without a visible link. Combined with the flying tourbillon, it creates a captivating floating effect, offering an unobstructed view of the mechanism in motion.
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The tourbillon is encased in a flying cage, which makes it appear as if it is floating
Limited to 50 pieces, the Classique Tourbillon Sidéral 7255 features an aventurine dial, the deep blue a soothing counterpoint to the mechanical complexity of the tourbillon. The 38mm case is in Breguet gold, a special in-house alloy composed of 75 per cent gold, and enriched with silver, copper and palladium. The caseback is also a sight to behold, thanks to Quai de l’Horloge guilloché in circular and linear patterns.
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The decorative caseback also highlights the beauty of the flying tourbillon
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