The minute repeater is a heavy-duty horological complication, a small mechanical masterpiece, and fascinated by it, in 1783, Abraham-Louis Breguet created his first repeating watches. He used a spring blade instead of the bell-type gong used until then. The blades help in reducing the thickness of chiming watches as they coil around the movement. It also helped in emitting a clearer and more harmonious sound.
Today, the all-new Breguet Classique 7637 Répétition Minutes (Ref. 7637BR/2N/9ZU) pays tribute to those minute repeater watches. The 42mm timepiece is crafted in 18K rose gold and features a black Grand Feu enamel dial which is made with a mixture of silica and ground oxides. Also, the minimal dial showcases the Breguet Arabic hour markers, minute track, and the brand’s logo applied with powdered silver colour, and open-tipped gold Breguet hands. At 9 o’clock is a slide that activates the minute repeater.
The caseback is topped with a sapphire crystal exhibiting the hand-chased mechanical hand-wound movement of Calibre 567.2 beating at a frequency of 2.5 Hz and boasting a power reserve of 40 hours. Additionally, the movement has gongs made with gold to produce a harmonious sound quality with a wealth of partials (overtones); it is positioned in the middle of the case so that it can vibrate directly and transmit sound more effectively. The timepiece is completed with a black alligator leather strap with a gold triple-blade folding clasp.
Images Courtesy: Breguet
