2015 is an important year for Breguet, and one of the anniversary pieces is the Marine Chronographe celebrating the 200th anniversary of Abraham-Louis Breguet’s appointment as chronometer-supplier to the French Royal Navy by King Louis XVIII. This watch is a limited edition of 200 pieces, with platinum case.
Case and dial
The platinum case is 42 mm in diameter and 14.1 mm thick, with the characteristic Breguet fluted caseband and a sapphire transparent caseback. It is water-resistant to 100 metres. The pushers on the caseband are a perfect example of the attention that Breguet pays to design details: they are not straight, but slightly curved. On the dial, the Breguet name-plate lies above the two key dates, 1815-2015; there are four hands on the centre pivot, the hour and minute hands in Breguet pattern but with SuperLuminova in the circular apertures, a slender chronograph seconds hand and a larger chronograph minutes hand with an anchor counterweight. The subdial at 6 o’clock indicates chronograph hours; that at 9 o’clock is for continuous seconds, with a date window at the bottom. The watch has a rubber strap.
Movement
The calibre 583Q/1 automatic movement runs at 4 Hertz and provides 48 hours power reserve. Visible through the caseback, the movement is dominated by the spectacular oscillating weight, dedicated with a swirling guilloché motif reminiscent of a wave on the sea.
Reference, price and availability
The Breguet Marine Chronographe “200 Ans de Marine” 5823 is reference 5823PT/H2/5ZU, a limited edition of 200. The price is €53,000, available from autumn 2015. Without doubt a collector’s piece; Breguet’s marine watches are particularly appreciated by Russian customers.
