Perpetual Perfection With Breguet’s Classique Quantième Perpetual 7327
5 min read
Have you ever wondered what is so unique about a "perpetual" calendar watch? A perpetual calendar tracks the complexity of the calendar automatically and doesn't need to be manually corrected, unlike an annual calendar that needs to be adjusted for shorter months. But Breguet's recently released Classique Quantième Perpetual 7327 is in a class by itself among other perpetual calendars.
Breguet has mastered horological complications for more than 200 years. Although several brands have perpetual calendars as a part of their collections, none compare to the 7327's immaculate beauty and accuracy. Your attention is immediately drawn to its classic and exquisite design, which has the recognizable Breguet hands and guilloche dial. But a mechanical heart of gold pulses inside. Let’s understand this timepiece better!
The Craftsmanship Behind the Perpetual Calendar
When you consider the intricacy involved in creating a perpetual calendar complication, the 7327 is truly a work of art. Master watchmakers spend years honing their craft to achieve the precision and mastery required to assemble the 475 components that make up this caliber.
Each part is meticulously finished and decorated by hand. The guilloché dial, for example, is engraved on a rose engine, a technique mastered by only a handful of artisans today. To produce the sunburst pattern, a solid silver dial is secured, and a cutting tool is manually guided over its surface, requiring a perfectly steady hand and eye.
The 7327 goes beyond a technical feat, however, demonstrating Breguet's dedication to design. True to Breguet’s style, the 7327 exudes understated elegance. Its 18k rose gold case features delicate fluting around the bezel, with a silvered gold dial and blued steel hands. Roman numerals mark the hours, with a subsidiary seconds dial and dual window displays for the day, date, month, and moon phase.
When compared to perpetual calendars from a Patek Philippe, Breguet's Classique Quantième Perpétuel 7327 offers remarkable value as well. You get the same level of finishing and complication at a significantly lesser cost. Not that you are considering costs if you are considering adding a Breguet perpetual to your collection, but it’s always added value. If you're looking to procure a perpetual calendar from one of the most prestigious names in watchmaking without the typical price tag, the Classique Quantième Perpétuel 7327 should be at the top of your list.
For the watch enthusiast searching for a perpetual calendar that showcases Breguet's mastery of mechanical complexity and timeless design, the 7327 is the total package. When you consider what goes into producing a timepiece of this caliber, it's really quite the bargain. But more importantly, you get to own a piece of horological history on your wrist.
Comparing the 7327 to Other Perpetual Calendars
The Breguet Classique Quantième Perpétuel 7327 is an elegant perpetual calendar timepiece with a reasonable price point compared to others in its category. How does this new reference stand up to comparable models from Patek Philippe, Audemars Piguet, and Vacheron Constantin?
- Price: Price: At $78,300, the 7327 is very well-priced for a high-end perpetual calendar watch as compared to $80,200 for the previous Breguet 5327. For the complications and brand prestige, the 7327 offers great value.
- Design: The 7327 has a classic yet contemporary feel with its slim case, enamel dial, and stylized Roman numerals. The layout is clean and symmetrical for optimal legibility. Now depending on your personal taste, this compares favorably to the busier dials of the Patek 5320G or Vacheron Constantin Patrimony. Breguet’s signature hands and guilloche dial pattern add visual interest without seeming cluttered.
- Movement: Inside the 7327 is Breguet’s automatic caliber 502.3QPR1 movement with a 50-hour power reserve. One often lusts over Patek’s caliber 324 SQP or Audemars Piguet’s caliber 5133 and rightly so, however this in-house movement is beautifully finished and visibly so. At this price point, a finely crafted in-house movement from the House of Breguet still holds its own.
- Complications: In addition to the perpetual calendar, the 7327 includes a retrograde date, moonphase, and power reserve indicator.
The Breguet Classique Quantième Perpetual 7327 is an investment, with an average retail price of around USD 65,000. For that price tag, you're getting one of the finest perpetual calendars on the market with a solid 18-karat rose or white gold case and Breguet's hand-made and hand-decorated movement.
Compared to other high-end perpetual calendars like Patek Philippe’s Ref. 5320G, A. Lange & Söhne’s 1815 Perpetual Calendar, or Vacheron Constantin’s Traditionnelle Perpetual Calendar, the Breguet 7327 is certainly in the same league in terms of quality, complications, and brand prestige. However, Breguet’s option is often slightly more accessible, likely due to their smaller production numbers and more understated designs. And let’s face it, it is a Breguet…
The real value in the 7327 comes from its well-executed perpetual calendar complication, which tracks the irregular lengths of months and leap years with precision. This complex mechanism, combined with Breguet's signature styling like the engine-turned dial, open-tipped hands, and welded lugs, make this a timepiece destined to hold its value well over time.
In the end, whether any luxury watch is “worth” its high price comes down to your personal budget and how much value you place on the brand, quality, and complexity of the timepiece. The Breguet Classique Quantième Perpetual 7327 will likely appeal most to serious watch collectors looking to add an iconic perpetual calendar to their collection from one of the most prestigious names in watchmaking. If that describes you, and you have the means, this could very well be worth the investment.
With its perpetual calendar and moon phase indicator, the Breguet Classique Quantième Perpetual 7327 is the epitome of elegance that meets precision. This timepiece gives you a glimpse into the cosmos with its display of the lunar cycle, while also keeping impeccable track of the date for the next 400 years.
The Classique Quantième Perpetual 7327 is a watch destined to become an heirloom, passed down through generations. Not only will its perpetual calendar stand the test of time, but its classic and refined styling embodies the Breguet esthetic, appreciated for centuries. For the discerning collector seeking a harmonious fusion of complications and timeless design, the Breguet Classique Quantième Perpetual 7327 deserves a place in any watch collection.
