Manufacturer: Breguet Year: Circa 2008 Reference No: 5335PT/42/9W6 Movement No: 4'838 Case No: 3073 AE Model Name: Classique Tourbillon Messidor Material: Platinum Calibre: Manual, cal. 558 SQ2, 21 jewels Bracelet/Strap: Crocodile Clasp/Buckle: Platinum Breguet deployant clasp Dimensions: 40mm diameter Signed: Case, dial, movement and clasp signed Accessories: Accompanied by Breguet warranty stamped Crystal Group, Ukraine dated 5 November 2008 and product literature.
Catalogue Essay
- The Breguet reference 5335 Tourbillon Messidor is a contemporary homage to Abraham-Louis Breguet’s original tourbillon concept from 1801. The name "Messidor" commemorates the specific date of 7 Messidor, Year 9, on the old French Revolutionary calendar—marking the day the tourbillon was granted a patent.
- Encased in a 40mm platinum case, this timepiece exemplifies Breguet’s mastery of technical innovation and timeless design. As a Grande Complication watch, it showcases the intricate decoration and Haute Horlogerie craftsmanship synonymous with Breguet’s most celebrated complication.
- At the heart of the Tourbillon Messidor lies Breguet’s manual wound calibre 558 SQ2, developed and produced entirely in-house. This movement features Breguet's iconic tourbillon escapement, meticulously engineered to counteract the effects of gravity on precision, epitomizing Breguet's relentless pursuit of chronometric accuracy and perfection.
- The dial of the Tourbillon Messidor presents the hours and minutes in a minimalist style, allowing the skeletonized movement to take center stage.
- Preserved in excellent overall condition and accompanied by its original certificate, this exceptional watch, which has a retail price of HKD 1,556,600, is offered at a fraction of that price. It would be a superb addition to any collection focused on significant modern tourbillon watches, further enhancing Breguet’s legacy as a pioneer of horological complications.
Established in 1775 by Abraham Louis Breguet, widely considered the greatest watchmaker of all time, the storied brand continues to thrive in the modern era, creating exceptional high-end watches as the Swatch Group's premier prestige brand. Some of the most important and lasting inventions in watchmaking are attributed to Abraham Louis Breguet, including the tourbillon, shock resistance and the use of hammers and gongs employed in nearly all minute repeating watches made since.
Eighteenth and nineteenth century Breguet pocketwatches are especially sought-after by collectors, and many of them were made for the elite of European society, including Napoléon and Marie Antoinette. Key wristwatches from the twentieth century include oversized dress watches, two-register chronographs, triple calendars and Type XX aviator's chronographs made for the French military and civilians.