When seminal watchmaker Breguet unveils a new novelty, the industry takes note. The brand that lays claim to the original tourbillon, Breguet has made a habit of redefining just what traditional watch producers are capable of doing. In 2023, Breguet has done it again, unveiling the Classique 7637 Répétition Minutes, a watch for the purists that has to be seen to be believed.
Marking just the third repeating wristwatch to join the Breguet catalogue, the new Classique 7637 Répétition Minutes offers a stunning example of the Maison’s impeccable craftsmanship. However, the new timepiece does stray quite far from what Breguet fans are used to.
In previous years, the watchmaker has dazzled the industry with intricate designs inspired by its pre-French Revolution pedigree, offering ornate novelties that blur the lines between wearable art and timing instruments. With Classique 7637 Répétition Minutes, Breguet has paired back the design to near minimalistic levels, adorning the watch with a simple, elegant black dial complete with Arabic numerals. It’s an understated piece from the traditional watchmaker, but there are a few opulent touches thrown in if you look closely enough.
The dial itself was crafted using the grand feu enamelling technique, which sees a mixture of silica and ground oxides dissolved in water before being applied using a variety of methods. From here, each layer and colour must be fired at a set temperature of over 800 degrees Celsius. As Breguet explained, when in contact with this heat, the enamel ignites and melts to create each layer, a process that can take several weeks to produce a single dial in the desired shade.
The dial’s numerals, minutes track and logo are highlighted in powdered silver, while Breguet has also opted to display the hours and minutes with open-tipped gold Breguet hands. The minute repeater itself is activated by the dedicated slide at 9 o’clock, and it’s here that the piece really comes alive.
With a heritage that boasts some of the first repeating watches ever produced, you would expect Breguet to knock this function out of the park, and the Classique 7637 Répétition Minutes doesn’t disappoint. The mechanism features a series of hammers that strike a gong spring, which when combined with the the acoustic materials used in the design, deliver a soothing chime that can only be described as the sound of luxury.
According to Breguet, it takes more than a month of work to create a minute repeater due to the minuscule size of each component. When you think about the fact that all these elements sit snugly in the Classique 7637 Répétition Minutes’ 42mm rose gold case, you start to get a picture of just how impressive the production process is. When you flip the watch over, you need not imagine any longer. The sapphire caseback brings all that incredible precision to the surface with the movement clearly visible through the caseback.
Now, it must be said, Breguet is no stranger to bold and opulent, but the new Classique 7637 Répétition Minutes’ refined design speaks to a new sensibility. With a subtle chime and a dial that harks back to the Swiss-French Maison’s heritage, you can scarcely argue that this is quiet luxury, rather a booming call to classic craftsmanship.
The new Classique Répétition Minutes is fitted with a black alligator leather strap secured by a gold triple-blade folding clasp. The 18K rose gold version of the piece is available now, priced at AUD$362,500.
Breguet Classique 7637 Répétition Minutes
- Brand: Breguet
- Model: Classique 7637 Répétition Minutes
- Reference: 7637BR/2N/9ZU
- Dial: Black Grand Feu enamel
- Material: 18K rosegold
- Diameter: 24m
- Movement: Breguet 567.2 hand-wound
- Power Reserve: 40-hour
- Price: AUD$362,500
