The Breguet Double Tourbillon Quai de l’Horloge celebrates tourbillon day
Buffy Acacia- The Breguet Classique Double Tourbillon Quai de l’Horloge is the latest Double Tourbillon reference, debuting in rose gold for the first time since 2006.
- Not only does its skeletonised dial boast two tourbillons, but it rotates twice per day, turning one tourbillon into an hour hand.
- Because the calibre 588N2 is viewed from the dial side, the back of the movement has been engraved with a scene of Breguet’s studio near Pont Neuf, in Paris.
Breguet has been changing up its image as a heritage watchmaker lately, giving focus to some of its more casual, contemporary watches. However, to mark the 223rd birthday of Abraham-Louis Breguet’s own patenting of the tourbillon, the brand has stepped back into its historical regency to present the Breguet Classic Double Tourbillon Quai de d’Horloge. Combining two of these hypnotising escapements into one movement is cause enough for adoration, but once you consider the fact that the entire dial spins, it quickly becomes a lavish celebration of the watch world’s most legendary complication.
Having been introduced in 2006, the Double Tourbillon technology itself is nothing new. The first of the openworked references was released in a solid platinum in 2020, and there was a similar reference sporting an ornate dragon sculpture to commemorate 2024’s Year of the Dragon. So, considering that 223 years isn’t exactly an oft-celebrated anniversary, it makes sense that this new release for the latest Tourbillon Day is mostly an exploration of materials and colours. True opulence has been making its way back into fashion as prices for luxury watches skyrocket, and with it has risen the appreciation for rose gold. Its warm, rouge tones are no longer typecast as overly feminine, and it allows watchmakers to be as grand as they wish with their designs, without risking the over-the-top garishness which yellow gold can sometimes bring. Going over-the-top just a tad can be satisfying though, and the new Double Tourbillon Quai de l’Horloge is awash in grandeur.
Between the hulking presence of the 46mm x 16.8mm case and the captivating dial, this certainly isn’t a watch that will escape notice easily. The contrast between the blue hands and the metallic components is nothing short of regal, yet the blue rubber strap broaches the topic of wearing it casually. The lack of water resistance does make the prospect of daily wear a little daunting, but if you can afford this watch, then I’m sure you can afford a beautiful 23mm strap to replace it should you want a more elegant look. The shape of the case is definitely classical, with gorgeous coin-edge detailing in the centre. The straight lugs feel more like rigid support structures than parts of the overall silhouette, making the dial seem like a gallery exhibit.
It’s impossible to separate discussion of the movement and the dial, for the openwork nature entwines them both. It takes a ridiculous amount of expertise to make a 740-piece movement look nice, let alone cohesive, but the calibre 588N2 is designed with remarkable clarity and symmetry. Each of the tourbillons is paired with its own mainspring and gear train, forming an X-arrangement on the dial. Half of the bar which supports them has been blued and given a point, turning one of the gently spinning tourbillons into an hour hand. That’s possible because the entire dial rotates once every 12 hours, changing up the view whenever you glance at the time.
You’d think that could be disorienting, but the display remains remarkably clear thanks to a suspended sapphire disk on the dial’s perimeter, keeping the Roman numerals and minute markers legible. Below all of this, the base plate is covered in a hand-lathed guilloché pattern named radiant flinqué. Closer inspection of the movement components will reveal that every piece is chamfered and polished by hand, even the ones which you can’t see. And not to be outdone by the skeletonised dial, the view from the exhibition caseback has been engraved with an incredibly detail-rich scene of Abraham-Louis Breguet’s workshop at 39 Quai de l’Horloge, just by Port Neuf which crosses the Seine.
Breguet Classique Double Tourbillon Quai de l’Horloge pricing and availability
The Breguet Classique Double Tourbillon Quai de l’Horloge is now available for enquiries. Price: on request
| Brand | Breguet |
| Model | Classique Double Tourbillon Quai de l’Horloge |
| Reference Number | 5345BR/1S/5XU |
| Case Dimensions | 46mm (D) x 16.8mm (T) |
| Case Material | 18k rose gold |
| Water Resistance | None |
| Crystal(s) | Sapphire front and back |
| Dial | Skeletonised with gold guilloché base plate |
| Lug Width | 23mm |
| Bracelet | Blue rubber strap with rose gold buckle |
| Movement | Calibre 588N2, in-house, manual-wind, pin-lever escapements |
| Power Reserve | 60 hours |
| Functions | Hours, minutes, double tourbillons, rotating dial |
| Availability | Available now |
| Price | On request |