The 250th anniversary of Breguet is a major occasion for the brand, prompting a series of special editions released throughout the year, each representing a key part of its history. The roll-out so far has been solid, but what has arrived now, as the year draws to a close, can finally be called exceptional. The new Classique Régulateur à Pivot Magnétique 7225 not only carries an impressive 10 Hz movement with a levitating balance, but also presents a handsome tri-counter design inspired by a pocket watch completed in 1809.

In homage to Breguet’s spirit

The Classique 7225 is a clever watch that brings genuine innovation to the balance assembly in pursuit of utmost chronometric precision. Breguet’s own testing records a deviation of just +/- 1 second per day. It is what purists would call a fitting homage to the brand’s founder, Abraham-Louis Breguet, a visionary watchmaker who pioneered mechanisms still revered today. In spirit, the 7225 continues that legacy with inventions that are both ingenious and, until now, unseen.

Where the 7225 stands out is in its movement, the calibre 574SC. It beats at an unusually high frequency of 10 Hz, or 72,000 vibrations per hour – equivalent to 20 ticks per second. A higher frequency helps improve stability in timekeeping by making it less susceptible to disturbances from the wearer’s wrist movements in the lower frequency range. However, it also brings the challenge of higher energy consumption and increased wear.

To counter that, Breguet has employed magnets in a novel way, allowing the balance staff to levitate slightly within its setting rather than pressing against the jewels, thereby reducing friction. There are still minimal points of contact, but these have been reduced to just the two tips touching the upper and lower jewels. And because key components such as the escape wheel and balance spring are made of amagnetic silicon, there is little concern about magnetism affecting the timekeeping. This first appeared in the Classique Chronométrie 7727 of 2012, which went on to win the Aiguille d’Or at the GPHG in 2014.

A special decoration for a special occasion

A classic design reborn

Although the movement isn’t new, the Ref. 7225 feels entirely fresh – and far more attractive than the original 7727 from 2012 – thanks to a thoughtful redesign that gives it greater visual balance. The dial adopts a magnificent triple-counter layout: hours and minutes at the centre, twin running seconds at the upper left and right, and a power reserve display at six o’clock.

It’s an arrangement that immediately recalls Breguet’s pocket watches of the past, particularly the Breguet No. 1176, a design that has held up for more than two centuries. Together with the thorough guilloché work, it gives the watch a look that feels deeply traditional.

Notice that the wheels are LIGA-fabricated, with cutouts serving not only to reduce weight but also, more unusually, for decorative effect

Two details deserve mention. The first is the guilloché itself, which for the very first time extends beyond the dial to the caseband. It replaces the traditional coin-edge decoration, giving the watch a more nuanced and luxurious finish while unifying the guilloché theme throughout.

The second is a subtle update to the movement, made necessary by the new dial layout. Breguet has added a zero-reset seconds function that acts as a short-duration chronograph, measuring up to sixty seconds. The pusher on the left side of the case, which resembles a slide for a minute repeater, serves as the actuator to reset the left seconds subdial back to zero before restarting.

Tech Specs: Breguet Classique Régulateur à Pivot Magnétique 7225
Reference: 7225BH0H9V6
Movement: Cal. 74SC; manual winding; 60 hours power reserve
Functions: Hours, minutes, seconds, flyback seconds, and power reserve indicator
Case: 41 mm x 10.7 mm; 18k Breguet gold; water resistant to 30 m
Strap: Blue alligator leather with pin buckle
Availability: At Breguet boutiques and retailers
Limited edition: No

Classique Phase de Lune 7235

For enthusiasts who love the gold-on-gold guilloché work on both the dial and case but prefer something simpler, Breguet also offers the Classique Phase de Lune 7235. If you find its asymmetrical design instantly recognisable as a Breguet, that is no coincidence. This has been a long-standing model in the brand’s catalogue, dating back to the 1980s when Breguet underwent a design renaissance that shaped the aesthetic language we know today.

The 7235 features an automatic movement for excellent daily practicality, yet this modern convenience does not detract from the watch’s traditional soul. In fact, the wristwatch takes inspiration from Pocket Watch No. 5, delivered in 1794, more than 230 years ago, which also featured an automatic winding system.

Naturally, the modern version comes with contemporary Breguet innovations. The Calibre 502.3.DRL is equipped with a silicon hairspring and escapement for improved resistance to magnetism. For this particular edition, a limited release unlike the 7225, the movement has been hand engraved with a view of the Quai de l’Horloge, the historic site of Breguet’s original workshop.

Tech Specs: Breguet Classique Phase de Lune 7235
Reference: 7235BH/02/9V6
Movement: Cal. 502.3.DRL; automatic; 45 hours power reserve
Functions: Hours, minutes, seconds, moon phase, and power reserve indicator
Case: 39 mm x 9.9 mm; 18k Breguet gold; water resistant to 30 m
Strap: Blue alligator leather with pin buckle
Availability: At Breguet boutiques and retailers
Limited edition: 250 pieces