Two Centuries, Two Watches, One Vision: Breguet Unveils The Classique 7235 And 7225

The fundamentals of Breguet's style are so deeply intertwined with the Manufacture’s 250-year history that pinpointing a single origin is a daring task. Its journey is more than a history of watches, it is a chronicle of vision, invention, and aesthetic mastery. The Manufacture’s latest releases, the Classique 7235 and Classique 7225, encapsulate this legacy perfectly. One is a tribute to the foundational style of Breguet, while the other pushes the limits of chronometric precision. Together, they reflect how Breguet continues to shape the evolution of watchmaking, blending historical homage with modern innovation, artistry, and technical mastery.

Classique 7235: A Dialogue with History
How did the fundamentals of Breguet style originate? What began more than two centuries ago is still relevant today, just exemplifies the visionary watchmaking of its founder. Abraham-Louis Breguet was not just a watchmaker; he was a visionary who redefined horology. His inventions and aesthetic codes like the instantly recognisable “Breguet hands” transcended time, influencing centuries of watchmaking. Interestingly, what is now considered “classic” was, in Breguet’s era, profoundly innovative. Pocket watches of the late 18th century were dense and ornamented, lacking coherence. 

Breguet created a universal watchmaking language, balancing technical ingenuity with refined elegance and legibility, forging the neo-classical aesthetic that still inspires collectors today. The No. 5 pocket watch, delivered in 1794, embodies these principles most perfectly. The Classique 7235 pays homage to this landmark piece while adapting it for modern wristwear.

Design and Dial: History Reimagined
The Classique 7235 is not a reproduction of the No. 5 pocket watch but a reinterpretation. Adjustments were made to accommodate a wristwatch format, including a dedicated movement and case proportions for a limited edition of 250 pieces. Its dial mirrors the historical complications: central hours and minutes, a power reserve between 10 and 11 o’clock, a moon phase at 2 o’clock, and small seconds between 5 and 6 o’clock. This offset placement of the small seconds pays tribute to Breguet’s original designs, which rarely positioned it at VI o’clock, allowing clarity and elegance to coexist with a touch of playful whimsy.

Crafted in 18K Breguet gold, the dial features a hand-guilloché “Quai de l’Horloge” motif, with circular rendering for the small seconds, power-reserve, and dial rim, separated by satin-brushed inserts for volume and legibility. The moon at 2 o’clock reproduces that of the No. 5 watch and is also made of Breguet gold. A bevelled dial, thinner at the edges than the center, gives a subtle slope to the chapter ring, allowing a slimmer bezel and perfect junction with the spherical sapphire crystal.

Calibre 502.3.DRL: Technical Elegance
Under the dial, the new in-house Calibre 502.3.DRL drives the watch. Slim at just 3.95 mm for a 32.4 mm diameter and self-winding, it incorporates a silicon balance-spring and an offset oscillating weight, enabling optimized component distribution and a case thickness of 9.9 mm in a 39 mm diameter case an ideal size for collectors. The sapphire caseback reveals a fully hand-engraved movement depicting the Turgot map of Paris, including the Quai de l’Horloge workshops. This artistic tribute connects the present timepiece with the 18th-century genius of Breguet, underscoring the fusion of artistry and engineering that defines the Maison.

Watch No. 5 was delivered during a pivotal period in Breguet’s life. Amid the French Revolution, Abraham-Louis faced political unrest and financial challenges. He returned to Switzerland in 1793 for protection, crafting the watch directly before Thomas Boulanger delivered it months later. This era contextualizes the Classique 7235, making it a living bridge to the challenges, creativity, and resilience of Breguet himself.

Classique 7225: Precision Elevated
While the 7235 pays homage to historical style, the Classique 7225 advances horology through precision. Inspired by the legendary No. 1176 tourbillon (1802–1809), it integrates a high-frequency escapement (10 Hz) and a magnetic pivot balance staff a contemporary answer to the challenges Breguet addressed centuries ago.

Breguet’s original experiments aimed at precision were multi-faceted, from escapement types to material choice. High-frequency movements were largely unexplored due to technical limitations. The Classique 7225 continues this pursuit, marrying historical inspiration with cutting-edge innovation. The magnetic pivot, patented in 2010, stabilizes the balance staff against gravity and impacts using two micro-magnets generating an intense flux. This allows unprecedented amplitude stability and ensures chronometric performance in all positions.

How Does Magnetic Pivot Work?

Magnetism used to be a troublemaker in watchmaking, messing with the smooth ticking of a movement. Today, Breguet has turned it into a hero. The goal is simple: keep the balance staff steady, free from the effects of gravity, and bouncing back perfectly even after a knock. Here’s how it works. Tiny magnets sit on either side of the balance-staff, creating a powerful magnetic field inside the shaft. A clever little imbalance keeps one end always touching its endstone, and if the watch gets a bump, the magnets gently push it back into place.

Most watchmakers spend years trying to get rid of every last trace of magnetism. Breguet does the opposite. They use two micro-magnets with a whopping 1.3 Tesla (13,000 gauss) to give the balance staff rock-solid stability. The result? A watch that keeps perfect time with confidence. In a regular watch, the balance-staff swivels inside jewels, and friction messes with timing. Vertical and horizontal positions affect this friction differently, making accuracy a challenge. The magnetic pivot changes the game. Only the tip of the staff touches the jewel, and it does so evenly across all six positions. Less friction, more stability, better average rate results in a major upgrade.

This breakthrough was the first of its kind in over 200 years of watchmaking. Breguet debuted it in the Classique Chronométrie 7727, a 10 Hz powerhouse that instantly won over the watch world, snagging the 2014 “Aiguille d’Or” at the Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève. 

Innovative Chronometry
The dial echoes the No. 1176’s design: central hours and minutes, a fan-shaped power reserve at 6 o’clock, and dual small seconds at 2 and 10 o’clock—the latter with a flyback function for measuring intermediate times. The sapphire caseback reveals a phenakistoscope-style animation of the escape-wheel and pinion, creating a smooth morphing display of “1775” and “2025” marking a first for Breguet.

The Classique 7225 achieves exceptional precision, certified at +/- 1 second per day, a modern equivalent to the revolutionary constant-force tourbillon of its ancestor. Made of Breguet gold, the watch features new optimised lugs, a “Quai de l’Horloge” guilloché pattern across the dial, caseband, and inter-horn space, ensuring comfort, aesthetic continuity, and elegance.

The Breguet Hallmark: Craft, Performance, Ethics
Both timepieces bear the Breguet hallmark, a symbol of excellence, quality, and ethics. It certifies component quality, chronometric performance, and ethical manufacturing, including environmental responsibility and lifetime repairability. Each watch undergoes stringent inspection for chronometry, magnetism, water resistance, and acoustics where applicable. This hallmark encapsulates the Maison’s commitment to meticulous craftsmanship, technical mastery, and enduring heritage.

The Classique 7235 and 7225 exemplify the continuum of Breguet’s artistry. One connects us to the elegance, balance, and ingenuity of the 18th century; the other demonstrates the forefront of contemporary horology, merging magnetism, high-frequency escapement, and historical inspiration into a modern wristwatch. Together, they are not just watches—they are a living narrative of Breguet’s 250-year legacy, a celebration of innovation, precision, and timeless elegance.