An authentic Breguet watchBASELWORLD 2013: The Breguet Classique Reserve de Marche 5277
When a brand becomes known for its inventiveness like Breguet, it is only natural for it to direct its research to improving the running time of its movements. In this context the brand today presents the reference 5277 in a 38mm rose-gold case.
Its calibre 515DR movement features an innovation developed jointly by Breguet and its sister company, Nivarox. The movement of this Classique model, in particular its mainsprings, uses a new type of stainless steel with excellent mechanical properties that came out in 2012. This patented material stores more energy in a given volume, which means a greater power reserve and a constant torque for an unvarying rate. This alloy is also ecological, being free of cobalt or beryllium, non-magnetic and stainless. In a further effort to improve the mainspring’s functions, the Swatch Group and Breguet in particular developed an unusual patented design for parts of the barrel, substantially reducing the diameter of the barrel arbor’s core, thereby increasing the mainspring’s length and number of coils. This brings the power reserve of the reference 5277 from 75 to 96 hours. In the long run this invention will be applied to all the watches produced by the Swatch Group brands. The movement is also fitted with a silicon balance spring and an in-line Swiss lever escapement.
This timepiece features a Roman hours and minutes chapter in the centre, small seconds at 6 o'clock, and a power-reserve indicator at 1:30. The company also demonstrates its decorative skills in an engine-turned hobnail pattern done by hand as well as cross-hatching. The open-tipped Breguet hands are in blued steel while fluting adorns the edge of a case that is water resistant to 3 bar (30m). Its secret signature, unique number and welded lugs are the final touches of an authentic Breguet watch.