This sporty Breguet Marine Chronographe 5527 is unburdened by dive watch aesthetics
Zach BlassIn the current landscape of watches, “daily wearer” sports watches are the reigning category. Considering the price a luxury watch commands, people often look for robust pieces they can wear as often as possible. This is part of why dive watches have become so popular, as they can be worn in pretty much any scenario – from beach to boardroom. The issue is, dive watches have a largely homogenous look. The good news is you do not need to turn to just field, pilot’s, or diver’s watches for a luxury daily wear experience. There are also those watches exuding robust elegance, offering the specs without an all too familiar look. This Breguet Marine Chronographe 5527 is a great example of what I mean. No, it is not a dive watch, but with its maritime theme, it is a watch you can swim with and wear with distinction from the herd.
Like the Type XX, the Marine collection is a space where more entry-metals can be found within a catalogue that is largely comprised of precious metal watches. The particular 5527 we got a closer look at is cased in titanium and affixed to a matching titanium bracelet. 42.3mm in diameter and 13.85mm thick, the 5527 is of a larger and sportier size, but the case construction retains the classic sensibilities of its Classique and Tradition siblings. Yes, its robustness is beefed up with lightweight titanium and a 100-metre depth rating, but the perimeter of the caseband, as with Breguet’s dressier models, features the fluted coining that is a case-design signature across Breguet’s catalogue.
Most sunburst dials radiate outwards from the centre of the dial. When it comes to the Marine Chronographe 5527, however, the rich lines instead extend out from the Breguet logo at 12 – and this finish is performed by hand, according to Breguet. Matte dials are the go-to for most dive watches, so a blue sunburst is still a dressier option within this segment. This is yet another element indicative of the blend of classic and sporty I mentioned earlier. The dial leans into more leisurely elements with the usage of luminous fillings for the applied Roman hour numerals and the main handset – including the running seconds at 9 o’clock. You’ll notice that Breguet didn’t make use of their eponymous numeral design with the Marine, rather opting for the iconic handset only. Larger counters at 3 and 6 o’clock are tied to the chronograph complication, indicating elapsed hours and elapsed minutes, respectively. At the 4:30, position a white-on-blue date disc blends into the dial.
Inside, and exhibited via the sapphire caseback, is the in-house 582QA flyback chronograph movement that is based upon the Lemania 1350. Remember – Lemania became Manufacture Breguet after it was acquired by the brand in 1992. The 582QA, however, is a modern evolution of its base through its usage of a silicon balance spring and pallet fork horns that protect the calibre against magnetism. The 48-hour power reserve-equipped calibre is nicely adorned with Geneva stripes, but I wouldn’t say the finish fully displays the Breguet’s talents. The openworked and solid gold ship-wheel rotor does allow you to better see the movement beneath it though.
Ultimately, this is a watch for someone who is looking for sporty-specs in an atypical package. Smaller wrists will want to try this on first to gauge if the lug-to-lug span is too long. The size is further exacerbated by the lack of a timing bezel, making the dial appear larger too. On a personal level, I am not 100% behind the 9 o’clock counter being smaller than the other two, and, of course, the 4:30 date is a whole other discussion. Nonetheless, the 5527 is handsome and different. You get the elegance associated with other Breguet models and their style, while also having a flyback chronograph that is fully capable of being taken on aquatic adventures.
Breguet Marine Chronographe ref. 5527TI/Y1/TW0 pricing and availability
The Breguet Marine Chronographe ref. 5527TI/Y1/TW0 is available now for purchase. Price: A$40,000, US$25,400
| Brand | Breguet |
| Model | Marine Chronographe 5527 |
| Reference Number | 5527TI/Y1/TW0 |
| Case Dimensions | 42.3mm (D) x 13.85mm (T) |
| Case Material | Titanium |
| Water Resistance | 100 metres, screw-down crown |
| Crystal(s) | Sapphire crystal front and back |
| Dial | Blue sunburst |
| Strap | Integrated titanium bracelet, folding clasp |
| Movement | 582QA, Lemania 1350 base, automatic, silicon escapement |
| Power Reserve | 48 hours |
| Functions | Hours, minutes, small seconds, date, flyback chronograph |
| Availability | Now |
| Price | A$40,000, US$25,400 |