Watch of the Week: New Breguet Classique Tourbillon Extra-Plat Squelette 5395
What happens when you strip down a Breguet to its core? Take away everything that’s not really necessary? Then you get the new Classique Tourbillon Extra-Plat Squelette 5395, which Breguet introduced earlier this month at their Swiss manufacture during #TimeToMove, the Swatch group’s event where they launched the novelties from their top tier brands.
Creating a skeleton always sounds so easy, you simply take away all the material that is not needed and there you have it. Unfortunately, that is not the case, especially not when you are talking about an ultra slim movement with a height of only 3mm! Every bit of metal that you take away is also weakening the overall integrity of the movement. Due to their expertise, Breguet has been able to carve away almost 50% of the calibre, while still maintaining the same reliability as the non-skeletonized version.
It’s movement, calibre 581 is not new, as we already know it from the models 5377 and 5367. This is, however, the first time that Breguet skeletonized it. What sets it apart is not only its thinness but also the fact that it runs at 4Hz, which is a particularly high frequency for a tourbillon. While the watch embodies the classic craftsmanship of Breguet, time has not stood still at their manufacture. The tourbillon cage is made from titanium, weighing only 0.29 grams, the escapement is equipped with silicon horns while the balance spring is made from this same material.
With an overall height of 7.70mm is the Classique Tourbillon Extra-Plat Squelette 5395 pleasantly slender. This watch also really benefits from the peripheral rotor, as it does not obstruct the view in any way. Because it is a skeleton, you see even more how asymmetrical the design of the movement is. Because of the stunning finishing, it makes the watch stand out even more. While an object of great beauty, Breguet has not forgotten the practical use either. A subtle sapphire ring, printed with Roman numerals and minute markers, combined with blued Breguet hands, makes reading the time quite easy. They form the finishing touch on a watch that can only be seen as a showcase of Breguet’s expertise, designed to be enjoyed on a daily basis.
