Breguet Classique Tourbillon Quantième Perpétuel reference 3797 in pink gold (3797BR/1E/9WU). It houses the Calibre 588QP2 manual-winding movement in a 41mm diameter case. Indicative pricing: SGD237,500 (Singapore dollars) / MYR535,000 (Malaysian Ringgit). Photo: © TANG Portfolio. Elfa / Timmy. BaselWorld 2014
Take a good look at the hour and minute hands on Breguet’s Classique Tourbillon Quantième Perpétuel reference 3797 and you’d notice something different about its chapter ring.
The chapter ring is actually sitting above the dial and an opaque offset sapphire disc with metallic Roman numerals is used. In other words, it rises above the rest – all else on the dial.
For the indication of time, the blued steel Breguet open-tipped minute hand travels above the sapphire disc chapter ring while the open-tipped hour hand revolves within the chapter ring.
The blued steel Breguet open-tipped hour and minute hands travel around the elevated sapphire disc chapter ring. At the 12 o’clock position is the retrograde date display. The day display is at 9 o’clock while the month indication is at 3 o’clock. The leap year indication is also at the 3 o’clock position. A revolving blue “sun” will indicate the year and this is currently hidden by the chapter ring and above year “2”. The leap year is indicated when this blue sun is at the “B” position which is year “4”. The tourbillon is at 6 o’clock and above it is the triple hand for the sweep seconds. From the example shown here, it is 12 past 6 on 30 March which is a Sunday. Photo: © TANG Portfolio. Elfa / Timmy. BaselWorld 2014
There is plenty of information provided by this perpetual calendar watch. It provides the leap year indication (at 3 o’clock), the months (also at 3 o’clock), the day of the week (at 9 o’clock) and do not forget the retrograde date at 12 o’clock.
The years are represented by the numerals 1, 2, 3 and the letter “B” which is for the leap year. The current year is indicated by a rotating blue sun.
The one-minute tourbillon is at 6 o’clock.
At around 7 o’clock, you will be able to locate the Breguet secret signature.
The view from the case back of the Breguet reference 3797 features the movement base plate that is decorated with engravings, what the brand describes as a trellis (a support for creepers). Photo: © TANG Portfolio. Elfa / Timmy. BaselWorld 2014
From the rear, you will see engravings decorating the movement base plate and the escapement wheel making its 60-second rounds.