Can you read the time easily on a Breguet Tradition?

Time is displayed on a small offset subdial, typically positioned at 12 o'clock. While legible, it requires a slightly different glance than a conventional watch, the time display is deliberately secondary to the exposed movement. Think of it as a watch designed to be admired first and read second.

How fragile is the Breguet Tradition?

The exposed movement components are protected by a sapphire crystal, just like any other watch dial. However, the Tradition is a dress/collector piece rated to only 30m water resistance: it's not built for active lifestyles. Treat it as you would any precious gold watch. Service should be performed by Breguet-authorized watchmakers due to the unique movement architecture.

What is pare-chute on a Breguet Tradition?

The pare-chute is a shock-protection device invented by Abraham-Louis Breguet around 1790: arguably the first shock-absorber in watchmaking history. It uses a spring-loaded bearing to cushion the balance wheel pivot against impacts. The pare-chute is visible on many Tradition models, providing both functional protection and a direct connection to 18th-century Breguet innovation.

How much does a Breguet Tradition cost?

Breguet Tradition prices range widely. The original Ref. 7027 can be found pre-owned for $13,000-$20,000: extraordinary value for an in-house Breguet. Current models (Ref. 7097, 7597) retail from $35,000-$54,000 with pre-owned examples available at 20-30% discounts. The Fusée Tourbillon Ref. 7047 ranges from $100,000-$175,000.

What makes the Breguet Tradition special?

The Breguet Tradition is unique because it displays the watch's movement, mainspring barrel, gear train, escapement, and balance wheel,on the dial side, turning the internal mechanics into visual art. Time is read from a small offset subdial. This design directly references Abraham-Louis Breguet's souscription pocket watches from 1796, making it a modern reinterpretation of a concept over 200 years old.

Is the Breguet Tradition a good investment?

The Breguet Tradition, particularly the original Ref. 7027, is increasingly recognized as undervalued. Early references have appreciated from $11,000 lows to $15,000-$20,000 as collector awareness grows. Breguet as a whole is considered underpriced relative to its historical significance: any broader market revaluation will benefit the Tradition. The Fusée Tourbillon Ref. 7047 holds value well at the ultra-high end.

Is the Breguet Tradition skeletonized?

The Breguet Tradition is not technically skeletonized: skeletonization involves removing material from the movement. Instead, the Tradition inverts the movement construction, placing the mechanical components (which normally face the caseback) on the dial side. This creates a similar visual effect to skeletonization. You see the working mechanics, but through architectural inversion rather than material removal.

Where can I buy a Breguet Tradition in NYC?

Breguet has a boutique on Fifth Avenue in Manhattan. For pre-owned Breguet Tradition models at competitive prices, visit Ultimate Diamond on 47th Street in NYC's Diamond District: we've been a trusted family-owned dealer since 1959 and specialize in haute horlogerie from brands like Breguet.

Breguet Tradition: The Movement as Art

The Breguet Tradition, introduced in 2005 under Nicolas Hayek's direction, is the most conceptually bold watch in the Breguet catalog. It exposes the movement on the dial side, placing the balance wheel, mainspring barrel, gear train, and escapement in full view beneath a sapphire crystal. The design references Abraham-Louis Breguet's subscription watches from the 1790s, where cost reduction led to exposed calibres that became objects of mechanical beauty. The current collection includes the Tradition Automatique Seconde Rétrograde (7097), the Quantième Rétrograde (7597), and the exceptional Fusée Tourbillon (7047) with chain-and-fusée constant-force mechanism. Movements are in-house with silicon components. The Ref. 7097 retails around $48,100 in rose gold; pre-owned examples from the 7027/7037 generation trade at $13,000-$20,000, making them among the most compelling values in complicated watchmaking. The Tradition is proof that Breguet can innovate as radically now as its founder did 230 years ago.

We can source this

3 references we can source through our network.

Tradition · Source It Tradition · Source It Tradition · Source It

Specifications

Current Reference7097 (Seconde Rétrograde), 7597 (Quantième Rétrograde), 7047 (Fusée Tourbillon)

Case Diameter37mm (7027 original) / 40mm (7097/7597) / 41mm (7047)

Case Material18K rose gold, 18K white gold, 18K yellow gold, platinum (select models)

Crystal TypeSapphire crystal with sapphire caseback

Water Resistance30m / 100ft

MovementCal. 507DR (7027), Cal. 505SR1 (7097), Cal. 505Q1 (7597): all in-house, hand-wound or automatic

Movement TypeHand-wound (7027/7047) / Automatic (7037/7097/7597)

Power Reserve50 hours (7027/7097), 50+ hours (varies by calibre)

Bezel TypeFixed, coin-edge fluted profile in 18K gold

BraceletLeather strap with 18K gold deployant buckle

Dial ColorsExposed movement architecture: rhodium-plated or gold-toned components, Silver/champagne guilloché time subdial

LumeNone: the Tradition is a dress/collector piece

Year Introduced2005

Current Retail M S R P$35,000 - $175,000+ depending on model and complications (2025)

Made InSwitzerland (Vallée de Joux)

History

In 1796, Abraham-Louis Breguet introduced the souscription watch, a revolutionary concept where clients paid a quarter of the price upfront to finance production. These watches were deliberately simple: single hand, large dial, strong movement visible through the back. Closely related were the montres à tact (1799): tactile watches that could be read by touch, with their movements sometimes serving as the primary visual element. The modern Tradition, launched in 2005 under Swatch Group ownership, reimagined these concepts for the 21st century. Instead of hiding the movement behind a conventional dial, the Tradition made the movement the dial: exposing the full mechanical architecture on the front of the watch, with time displayed on a small offset guilloché subdial. The effect is stunning: you see the mainspring barrel, the gear train transmitting power, the escapement beating, and the balance wheel oscillating: all in real time, right on your wrist.

Iconic References

Buying Guide

• Watch connoisseurs who want to see mechanical artistry in real time on their wrist
• Collectors who appreciate Breguet's 250-year heritage and want something that connects directly to it
• Those who find conventional watch dials boring and want genuine visual drama
• The collector whose collection needs a 'conversation piece', the Tradition always starts a discussion
• Buyers who understand Breguet's undervaluation and want to get in before the market corrects

Pricing & Market Data

Retail MSRP

value$35,000-$48,000 (7097/7597); $150,000+ (7047 Fusée Tourbillon): 2025

Pre-Owned Market

value$13,000-$20,000 (7027 pre-owned); $28,000-$36,000 (7097 pre-owned); $38,000-$48,000 (7597 pre-owned); $100,000-$150,000 (7047 pre-owned)

Market Trajectory

Like all Breguet, the Tradition is widely considered undervalued. Early 7027 references are showing steady appreciation as 'first edition' status gains recognition. Current-production references trade at healthy discounts to retail, making pre-owned buying the smart approach.

Investment Grade

B-plus. The Tradition 7027 in particular offers strong long-term appreciation potential. Higher-complication references (7047) hold value well in the ultra-high-end market. Overall, any Breguet revaluation trend lifts the Tradition along with it.

Best Value Pick

Ref. 7027 in yellow gold: the original Tradition, hand-wound, exposed movement, Breguet heritage, for $13,000-$18,000 pre-owned. One of the most compelling values in haute horlogerie.

Comparisons

Cultural Significance

Frequently Asked Questions

Related Guides

Direct Comparison

A. Lange & Söhne Zeitwerk

The Zeitwerk, introduced in 2009, is the most mechanically radical wristwatch of the 21st century. It displays time digi...

Read guide →

Direct Comparison

A. Lange & Söhne Grand Lange 1

The Grand Lange 1 is the full-size version of the watch that put A. Lange & Söhne back on the map in 1994. When Glashütt...

Read guide →

Direct Comparison

Breguet Classique

The Breguet Classique is the archetype of the dress watch, the collection from which all modern dress watches descend. H...

Read guide →

Same Brand

Breguet Breguet: The Greatest Watchmaker Who Ever Lived: A Collector's Guide from 47th Street

Abraham-Louis Breguet (1747-1823) invented the tourbillon, the Breguet overcoil, the pare-chute shock protection system,...

Read guide →

Same Brand

Breguet Breguet Watch Guide: History, References, Prices, and the Opus Question | Ultimate Watch NYC

First, a correction a collector deserves before anyone writes a check: there is no watch called the "Breguet Opus." The ...

Read guide →

Same Brand

Breguet Marine

The Breguet Marine traces its lineage to 1815, when Abraham-Louis Breguet was appointed Horloger de la Marine Royale by ...

Read guide →

Own a Breguet?

We buy Breguet watches at competitive prices. Fast payment, no obligation quote.

Get a quote →Browse Breguet inventory →