While we all have different opinions on different watch styles, it’s hard to argue against something that practically defines what a classic look is. Abraham Louis Breguet created a number of innovations that would be amazing today, let alone several hundred years ago. And just how many watches have you seen with the Brequet pomme hands? Well, if you really want to lean into the classic, then there’s a watch like the Breguet Classique 7337.
One of the first things to note with the Breguet Classique 7337 – and what you should watch for on any high-end watch – is the off-centered time display. When a watch is able to do this, it means that they are doing some very clever things with packaging the movement, and not just simply shoving more into an enlarged case with everything radiating out from the central point.
Further reinforcing the concept that Breguet is doing their own thing – with their own movement – are the calendar functions that flank the time. On the left, you’ve got a large day display; on the right, you’ve got the date display. While they’ve kept the sizing the same, I’ve never been a fan of date displays that show more than a single date. Here, I would have preferred to see them go for something like a panoramic date display. Sure, it’s more modern, but I think it presents a cleaner look.
Sitting in pride of place, literally crowning the time, the Breguet Classique 7337 features a moonphase display. Bust out the loupe (or your macro lens) because that moons to have quite a bit of detail settled into its surface. All of this is made possible by the Brequet 502.3 QSE1 movement, which is finely decorated – and visible through the exhibition caseback (another nod to modernity).
If you’re wanting to put a Breguet Classique 7337 on your wrist, these tend to (in our mind) fall into the category of “if you have to ask…” Still, we did ask, and we can tell you – they’re going for $43,000. History and innovation – especially done up in gold as it is here – has its price. In return, you’ll get a watch that looks almost as timeless as when Msr. Breguet first began creating pocket watches. breguet.com
Tech Specs from Breguet
- Case: 18K white gold or rose gold
- Diameter: 39 mm
- Thickness: 9.95 mm
- Dial: in gold, hand-engraved on a rose engine
- Movement: Self-winding
- Functions: Moon phase, day, date, off-centred chapter ring, small seconds
- Balance-spring: flat, in silicon
- Escapement: inverted straight-line lever
- Water resistance: 3 bar (30 m)
- Calibre: 502.3 QSE1
- Frequency: 3 Hz
- Power reserve: 45 hours
- Components: 236
- Strap: midnight blue alligator leather strap for the white gold version, mysterious brown alligator leather for the rose gold model
