In a gesture that honors its foundational ingenuity, Breguet introduces the Classique Tourbillon Sideral 7255, a timepiece that marks the fourth chapter in the brand's 250th anniversary observances. The specific release date, June 26, 2025, is a deliberate and poignant nod to the same day in 1801 when the brilliant watchmaker Abraham-Louis Breguet was granted a patent for an invention that would forever alter the course of high horology: the tourbillon. This new creation is not merely a watch, but a conversation between past and present, strictly limited to a production of just 50 pieces for collectors worldwide.
The legacy of Abraham-Louis Breguet is deeply interwoven with the pursuit of precision and the expansion of scientific knowledge. His studies at Paris's Collège Mazarin under the tutelage of Abbé Marie, a respected professor of mathematics, ignited a lifelong fascination with astronomy. This scientific grounding allowed Breguet to approach watchmaking not just as a craftsman, but as an engineer and an inventor. He would become a member of the prestigious Académie des Sciences and the Bureau des Longitudes, collaborating with the leading astronomers of his day, including Lalande, Biot, and a young François Arago. It is this historical context, this fusion of celestial observation and mechanical genius, that provides the conceptual framework for the Tourbillon Sideral.
Courtesy of Breguet
The very name "Sidéral" is a carefully chosen descriptor, intended to evoke the cosmos and the measurement of time by the fixed positions of stars, rather than the Sun. This refers to sidereal time, a system used by astronomers to maintain the accuracy of their observations of the universe. The term "tourbillon" itself carried astronomical connotations in the 17th and 18th centuries. While its modern horological meaning is well-established, thinkers like Blaise Pascal used it to describe planetary systems, or a "material system animated with rotational motion." Breguet, a scholar of his era, was undoubtedly familiar with this definition, making the tourbillon's application in a watch named "Sidéral" a fitting tribute to both its historical etymology and its inventor's scientific passions.
Visually, the timepiece immediately draws the observer into a celestial panorama. The dial is a deep, cosmic blue, crafted from aventurine glass worked in the demanding tradition of "grand feu" enameling. This ancient art, dating back to 17th-century Murano, involves reducing the glass to a fine powder, which is then meticulously applied in successive layers. For this particular dial, no fewer than five layers are required, each one subjected to the intense heat of a kiln fired to over 800 degrees Celsius. This process is fraught with risk; a slight miscalculation in temperature or timing can ruin the piece entirely.
The result of this painstaking craft is a dial that captures the profound depth of the night sky. Suspended within the blue enamel are shimmering copper particles, which crystallize during the cooling process to create a random and sparkling starfield. The name "aventurine" itself derives from the Italian "a ventura," meaning "by chance," a reference to its accidental discovery when a glassmaker dropped copper filings into molten glass. Because each dial is handcrafted, the distribution of these sparkling inclusions is unique to every watch, making each of the 50 examples of the Classique Tourbillon Sidéral 7255 a distinct piece.
Courtesy of Breguet
Upon this cosmic backdrop, the indications of time are presented with clarity. An off-centered sub-dial for the hours and minutes sits at the 12 o’clock position, featuring a satin-brushed hour circle in Breguet gold with a blue PVD treatment. The numerals are Breguet’s own distinctive Arabic script, and the time is indicated by the brand's iconic hollowed-head "pomme" hands, also fashioned from 18K Breguet gold. Applied elements for the "Breguet" and "Tourbillon" signatures, also in Breguet gold, complete the dial-side display, their warm metallic glow contrasting beautifully against the deep blue expanse.
The true spectacle, however, resides at the 6 o'clock position, where the tourbillon performs its captivating rotation. For the first time in its long and storied history, the House of Breguet has introduced a flying tourbillon. This construction eschews the traditional upper bridge that would typically secure the tourbillon cage, supporting it solely from below. The effect is liberating, allowing the intricate mechanism to appear as if it is suspended in space, offering an unobstructed and mesmerizing view of its continuous motion as it counteracts the effects of gravity on the escapement.
This sense of suspension is further amplified by the integration of a "mysterious" complication, a design feat that Breguet has mastered over many years. The complication creates the illusion that an element is moving without any visible mechanical linkage. In the Classique Tourbillon Sidéral 7255, this is applied to the flying tourbillon itself. The lower bridge and the tourbillon carriage's lower support are crafted from sapphire glass with an anti-reflective coating, rendering them virtually invisible to the naked eye. The gearing that drives the cage is cleverly offset and hidden from view by the dial, perfecting the illusion of levitation.
The combination of these two complex features—flying and mysterious—results in a tourbillon that seems to float freely within its aperture. The entire mechanism is elevated, protruding 2.2 millimeters above the movement plate and 0.9 millimeters above the aventurine enamel dial. This deliberate three-dimensionality creates a profound sense of depth, a microcosm of celestial bodies moving through the vastness of space. The tourbillon is unquestionably the protagonist of this watch; the entire movement architecture is built around it, and its proportions dictate the overall thickness of the case.
Courtesy of Breguet
Driving this mechanical ballet is the manual-winding Calibre 187M1. This movement, comprising 183 components and 23 jewels, operates at a frequency of 2.5 Hz (18,000 vibrations per hour) and provides a solid 50-hour power reserve. It features a modern Breguet Nivachron™ balance spring, known for its stability and resistance to magnetic fields. The movement's bridges are crafted from 18K Breguet gold, providing a warm, lustrous foundation for the exquisite finishing.
The case of the Classique Tourbillon Sidéral 7255 is a study in the brand's signature design codes. Measuring a refined 38 mm in diameter and 10.2 mm in thickness, it is fashioned from 18K Breguet gold. This proprietary alloy, which consists of 75% gold enriched with silver, copper, and palladium, was developed to evoke the warm, subtly pink hue of gold used by 18th-century watchmakers, including A.-L. Breguet himself. Beyond its unique color, the alloy is notable for its resistance to discoloration over time.
The caseband is finished with the delicate, fine fluting that has been a hallmark of Breguet watches for centuries, and the straight lugs are securely welded to the case for a seamless profile. Turning the watch over reveals a sapphire crystal caseback that offers a view of the beautifully decorated movement. This view is dominated by an intricate, hand-applied guilloché pattern known as "Quai de l’Horloge," named for the location of Breguet's original Parisian workshop.
This specific guilloché motif, with a design inspired by the gentle curves of the river Seine as it flows around the Île de la Cité, makes a notable debut here. For the first time, it is executed not only in a circular pattern on the caseback and tourbillon support but also linearly across the entire main plate of the movement, creating a cohesive and richly textured visual landscape. The back bezel is individually engraved with the piece's unique number, from 1/50 to 50/50, and the inscription "BREGUET 250 YEARS."
Courtesy of Breguet
Abraham-Louis Breguet's own work with the tourbillon was one of constant evolution. Between 1796 and 1829, his workshop produced some forty pieces regulated by a tourbillon, including 35 watches and five other instruments like clocks and a marine chronometer. He never viewed the invention as a finished, immutable device, but rather as a principle to be explored. He experimented with different designs, oscillation frequencies, and escapements. The production of a single tourbillon timepiece in his era could take more than six years, a testament to the complexity of the task and the scarcity of skilled artisans capable of executing it.
These early tourbillons found their way into the hands of an elite clientele, including European sovereigns like George III and George IV of England and Ferdinand VII of Spain, as well as Russian aristocrats. Significantly, about a quarter of these pieces were acquired for naval purposes by shipowners and sea captains. They were used as vital instruments for calculating longitude during long voyages, with some traveling as far as Australia with explorers like Thomas Brisbane. This practical application for enhancing precision in challenging conditions would have surely pleased Breguet, who was deeply committed to advancing marine chronometry.
The new Classique Tourbillon Sidéral 7255 continues this spirit of innovation. In reinterpreting the tourbillon, Breguet chose to pay homage to the movement used in its very first tourbillon wristwatch, the reference 3350 from 1990. By introducing its first-ever flying tourbillon, the manufacture returns to the foundational principles of its founder, pushing the boundaries of what is possible while honoring the historical and aesthetic codes that define the brand.
The timepiece is secured to the wrist with a handsome navy blue alligator leather strap, featuring large scales on the exterior and a lining of small-scaled alligator leather for comfort. It closes with a three-blade deployant clasp made from 18K Breguet gold, ensuring both security and a touch of refinement that complements the case material.
The watch is presented in a special 250th Anniversary Edition box crafted from red leather, inspired by the red Moroccan leather cases used by Breguet during the 18th century. Each box is individually numbered to correspond with the limited-edition timepiece it holds, adding another layer of exclusivity to the ownership experience.
Courtesy of Breguet
The Breguet Classique Tourbillon Sideral 7255 represents a confluence of history, artistry, and advanced mechanical engineering. It is a piece that tells a story—of its inventor's connection to the stars, of the evolution of his most famous complication, and of a brand that continues to build upon a legacy of unparalleled innovation.
With its release scheduled for June 26, 2025, the Breguet Classique Tourbillon Sideral 7255 will be available to a select few. As a limited edition of only 50 examples, its exclusivity is assured. The price for this horological masterpiece is set at $226,000 USD. For that sum, the owner acquires not just a time-telling instrument, but a piece of Breguet's ongoing history—a mechanical celebration of a 224-year-old invention, rendered with contemporary flair and a deep reverence for its astronomical roots.
Case: 18K Breguet gold, 38 mm diameter, 10.2 mm thickness. Features a fluted caseband, welded lugs, and a sapphire caseback with Quai de l’Horloge handmade guilloché. Water-resistant to 30 meters.
Movement: Manual-winding Calibre 187M1 with a 1-minute flying tourbillon. Contains 23 jewels, 183 components, runs at 2.5 Hz (18,000 vph), and has a 50-hour power reserve. Features a Breguet Nivachron™ balance-spring.
Dial: Grand Feu aventurine enamel with an off-centered hour and minute sub-dial at 12 o'clock. Features Breguet Arabic numerals and "hollowed apple" hands in 18K Breguet gold.
Strap: Navy blue alligator leather with an 18K Breguet gold three-blade deployant clasp.
Price: $226,000 USD
Reference Number: 7255BH/2Y/9VU
Notes: Limited edition of 50 numbered pieces. This is the first time Breguet has created a "flying tourbillon," and it is combined with a "mysterious" complication, making the cage appear to float.