The New Breguet Tradition 7035

Haute Horlogerie watchmaker Breguet revisits its 37mm women’s edition of the Tradition in high jewellery mode. Sparkling with the light of diamonds and the warm glow of rubies and pink sapphires, the exquisite Breguet Tradition 7035 joins the existing women’s 7038 Tradition models. Unlike most high-end gem-set women’s watches, the Tradition reveals the movement on the dial. Combined with the stunning gem-setting, the Tradition 7035 is proof positive that women can enjoy the best of both worlds.

Background

The Tradition made its debut in 2005, inspired by the symmetrical movement architecture of Abraham-Louis Breguet’s souscription or subscription watches. With most of the mechanical movement fully exposed on the dial, it was a horological dream come true for many watch lovers, a contemporary openworked movement with historic Breguet inventions in full view. In 2015 retrograde seconds and automatic winding (Ref. 7097) were added to the mix, and in 2016, the first women’s wristwatch in the Tradition collection was launched with the reference 7038. Housed in a 37mm rose gold case with a diamond-set bezel, frosted bridges and a floral engraving on the central barrel, the 7038 was captivatingly beautiful, attracting many women who enjoy the spectacle of an openworked movement.

Breguet Tradition 7035

The 37mm polished rose gold case displays classic Breguet features like the delicate fluting on the caseband and the straight welded lugs with screw bars. Like the other women’s editions, the 7035 has a bright red ruby set in the crown and 68 brilliant-cut diamonds set in the bezel. Furthermore, the symmetrical layout of the mechanics on the dial is identical to other Breguet Tradition watches with retrograde seconds and automatic winding.

A scintillating setting of 74 brilliant-cut diamonds illuminates the subsidiary hours and minutes dial at 12 o’clock with its natural white mother-of-pearl chapter ring for the Breguet Arabic numerals and the slim open-tipped Breguet hands in 18k rose gold. Like all Breguet watches, the individual number is engraved in the arched-shaped plaque spanning from 10 to 2 o’clock beneath the chapter ring.

The retrograde seconds indicator at 10 o’clock is set with a gradient colour scheme formed by two rubies and slowly decreasing in intensity with seven pink sapphires. Arranged around the central barrel with its engraved rosette motif, the two symmetrical bridges – designed by Breguet for his subscription watches – hold the balance wheel and the third wheel in place. Abraham-Louis Breguet’s ingenious para-chute shock protection system attached to the balance cock can be seen at 4 o’clock. The other bridges in the bottom half of the movement are also finely engraved, echoing the rosette motif on the barrel.

However, what elevates this 7035 model into the realm of high jewellery is the profusion of snow-set diamonds on the 18k gold dial, plate and bridges. A total of 190 brilliant-cut diamonds of different sizes are set into the gold to evoke the irregular pattern of snowflakes in nature, a technique usually reserved for high jewellery.

Automatic calibre 505J

The sapphire crystal caseback reveals the automatic Breguet calibre 505J with a large gold rotor decorated with the rosette motif of the dial-side barrel. Fitted with a lever escapement with silicon pallets and a Breguet balance spring also made of silicon, the movement beats at 21,600vph/3Hz and delivers a 50-hour power reserve.

Availability and Price

Delivered with a pink leather strap, the rose gold pin buckle is set with an additional 25 brilliant-cut diamonds. The Breguet Tradition is limited to 88 pieces. Price on request.

For more information, please visit Breguet.com.