In 2026, Breguet pays tribute to the invention of the Tourbillon, for which Abraham-Louis Breguet was granted his historic patent on 7 Messidor Year 9 according to the French revolutionary calendar, corresponding to 26 June 1801. This means that this eminent complication has been an enduring part of day-to-day life for the Manufacture Breguet, its collectors and the entire watch industry – which has since widely adopted its founding principle – for exactly 225 years.

Since then, the Manufacture has continued to foster the progress of the great watchmaker’s invention, constantly drawing on its original inspiration, while over the decades introducing valuable technical refinements serving a single purpose: the quest for precision. All the new models presented today are part of this vision.

An invention at the heart of history

1793: the turmoil of the French Revolution eventually convinced Breguet to leave his workshop on the Quai de l’Horloge and enjoy a much-needed escape with his family. In Neuchâtel and subsequently in Le Locle, the watchmaker took advantage of this respite to revisit some of his creative visions and contemplate the future of his company.

Upon his return to Paris in 1795, Breguet unveiled a number of inventions that would prove decisive not only for his own future, but also for that of horology as a whole: the sympathique clock (a clock that sets the time of a pocket watch that is placed on top of it), the souscription watch (whose minimalist design redefined the aesthetic codes of watchmaking, and which the House of Breguet reinterpreted in 2025), along with the à tact watch (serving to read the time by touch), among many others.

A.-L. Breguet developed two new mechanisms: firstly, the constant-force escapement, patented in 1798 and secondly, a Tourbillon regulator device patented three years later in 1801. It is the latter that we are now celebrating on its 225th anniversary.

Classique Tourbillon 7357

The Classique Tourbillon 7357 follows in the footsteps of a historic Breguet model: Ref. 3350, which was none other than the first Tourbillon wristwatch produced by the modern-day Breguet in 1989. Now one of the timepieces most sought-after by collectors, this model was powered by the Calibre 558, a movement of equal historical significance.

The new Classique Tourbillon 7357 is its direct descendant, based on an optimised version of the famous 558 movement now known as Cal. 187B. To mark the Tourbillon patent’s 225th anniversary, the watch is available in two versions (platinum and Breguet gold), bearing the Breguet hallmark.

An exceptional movement: Cal. 187B

A new calibre has been developed for the two new Classique Tourbillon 7357 models: Cal. 187B.

The movement retains its predecessor’s fundamental features; driving displays of the hours, minutes and seconds, it is regulated by a Tourbillon. It maintains the historic frequency of 2.5 Hz or 18,000 vibrations per hour: a benchmark of great historical significance appreciated by all collectors, as A.-L. Breguet himself used it. It was the frequency already adopted by the Ref. 3350 of 1989. Cal. 187B naturally remains hand-wound in keeping with the purest watchmaking traditions and perfectly preserving the historical character of the movement.

The calibre has however been significantly optimised thanks to the Manufacture’s R&D. It is non-magnetic – which is why the hands are made of gold rather than steel, to prevent magnetic interference with the movement.

The power reserve has been increased to 60 hours. The movement’s accuracy is enhanced by the use of a Breguet Nivachron® balance-spring with a silicon pallet-lever, guaranteeing complete immunity to surrounding magnetic fields and thereby meeting the criteria of the Breguet hallmark.

Classique Tourbillon Sidéral 7255

An iconic creation among the timepieces unveiled as part of the 250th anniversary celebrations, the Classique Tourbillon Sidéral 7255 is the first Breguet wristwatch to feature a flying Tourbillon. This model also incorporates a “mysterious” display, a watchmaking construction that Breguet had not used for nearly 20 years.

The new Classique Tourbillon Sidéral 7255 features a platinum case with a black aventurine enamel dial. This new colour scheme reinforces the link between the timepiece and its astronomical heritage.

For the occasion, the chapter ring is crafted from gold and treated with a black finish. The “Breguet” and “Tourbillon” appliques are in rhodium-plated Breguet gold, as is the upper Tourbillon bridge. On the caseback, the watch features a Quai de l’Horloge-guilloché mainplate. The movement is hand-wound and endowed with a 50-hour power reserve. 
The watch is issued in a 50-piece limited edition.

Tradition Tourbillon 7047

Upon his return to France following the revolutionary events from which he had taken refuge in Switzerland, A.-L. Breguet developed two new mechanisms. First, an escapement known as the “constant-force” escapement, patented in 1798; secondly the “Tourbillon regulator” process patented three years later in 1801 and that now forms the heart of the new 7047.

Today, Breguet further explores the aesthetics of the Tradition Tourbillon 7047 with a platinum version adorned in a Bleu de France shade adorning the dial and bridges – not only the Tourbillon bridges, but also the large fusee-and-chain bridge that appears on either side of the time subdial. The fusee-and-chain itself is also finished in Bleu de France.

This shade is an original creation unveiled in 2025 to mark the Manufacture’s 250th anniversary on a Minute Repeater (Classique Répétition Minutes 7365). The Tourbillon cage is fitted with a silicon balance-spring. Since 2010, the cage has been crafted from titanium.

All these elements are finished in the same Bleu de France. Epitomising the extreme attention devoted to details, the traditional ruby-red jewel on the Tourbillon bar has on this occasion been replaced by a blue spinel, to ensure the piece’s chromatic consistency.

For technical reasons relating to the durability of the materials (synthetic ruby  vs. spinel), the other traditional jewels have been retained to ensure the perfect functioning of the associated components.

For the first time, the Grand Feu Bleu de France enamel dial features a chapter ring in Arabic numerals. It is on this dial that Breguet’s cherished secret signature appears. As is now customary for the Manufacture’s 250th anniversary, it is hand-engraved using a pantograph.

These various elements subtly contrast with a colour never before seen on a Breguet watch:  a glacier blue hue adorning the sandblasted mainplate. The same shade is also visible on the caseback, against which the Bleu de France bridges stand out with distinctive clarity,  honouring the aesthetic principles of harmony, simplicity and clarity consistently upheld by Abraham-Louis Breguet.

Expérimentale 1

Since its 250th anniversary, Manufacture Breguet has launched a brand-new collection named Expérimentale and incorporating the latest innovations from Breguet’s R&D department. The first model in this ambitious collection is simply named Expérimentale 1. The major advances it brings to this precious escapement must be set against the backdrop of the 225th anniversary of the Tourbillon’s invention.

The core features of the Expérimentale 1 are a constant force magnetic escapement Tourbillon and a 10 Hz frequency. Based on two fundamental physical principles (magnetism and high frequency), they combine to make the Expérimentale 1 a pioneering creation in the field of wristwatches: more accurate and more reliable.