Baselworld 2017: Breguet Marine Equation Marchante 5887. Breguet is launching worldwide a new model that marks the start of a new era - technically and aesthetically - for the Marine collection: the Marine Équation Marchante 5887. A true masterpiece, the Breguet Marine Équation Marchante 5887 has a price of around Euro 212,500 / US$ 215,000 in red gold and Euro 227,500 / US$ 230,000 in platinum. Breguet novelties 2017. Breguet Basel2017
Among the numerous recognitions achieved during his lifetime, Abraham-Louis Breguet was also awarded by Louis XVIII with the official title of chronometer maker to the French Royal Navy.
This was the most prestigious title a horologist could hope to receive, given that the very concept of marine chronometry implied scientific knowledge. It also involved playing a crucial role for the country, as marine chronometers were of capital importance for fleets by making it possible to calculate ships’ positions at sea.
One of the pillars of the current Breguet production, the Marine collection interprets this unique heritage with contemporary timepieces with all the qualities that one expects from a Breguet timepiece.
Breguet is now launching worldwide a new model that marks the start of a new era - technically and aesthetically - for this collection: the Marine Équation Marchante 5887.
In terms of design, this new complication model is characterised by central lugs combining polished and satin-brushed surfaces, more open fluting with visible flanks, a crown topped with a polished "B" against a sandblasted background.
The new Marine Équation Marchante comes in a 43.9 mm-diameter case in rose gold or platinum. The rose gold version frames a silvered dial and an anthracite movement, while the platinum interpretation has a blue dial and a rhodium-plated movement.
Technically speaking, the precious timepiece features a running equation of time, a perpetual calendar and a tourbillon together with a power reserve indicator.
The equation of time - which gives the name to the model - is one of the rarest and most fascinating horological complications. It serves to display the difference between mean solar time, corresponding to civil or standard hours and minutes, and true solar time, meaning the actual solar hours and minutes.
In fact, while within the conventional time - or mean solar time - each day has the same duration of exactly 24 hours, the true solar time is irregular.
Mean solar time may show a discrepancy with true solar time ranging from minus 16 minutes to plus 14 minutes. On just four days a year, the two times are exactly the same. Given that the sun’s various positions in the sky are reproduced in an identical manner on the same dates, watchmakers can “program” them by means of a special cam. The latter is shaped like a figure 8 and mechanically reproduces the path of the sun’s successive positions, called an analemma curve.
Requiring extremely accurate execution, the cam is coupled with a feeler-spindle that drives an equation lever serving to indicate the difference between civil time and solar time (-16 to +14 minutes). This read-off is generally provided on a sector or subdial leaving to the user to mentally add or subtract the difference displayed in relation to mean time in order to calculate true solar time.
The new Marine Équation Marchante from Breguet supersedes this principle by simultaneously indicating civil time and true time by means of two separate minutes hands.
The running solar hand, adorned with a faceted golden sun, provides a direct reading of solar time minutes that is both quicker and more user-friendly.
The solar minutes hand must sweep in a conventional way around the dial, like the civil minutes hand, while also daily moving away from the latter by a distance that varies in accordance with the analemma curve, in order to display the equation. Breguet was able to accomplish this by equipping its running solar hand with a differential gear powered by two rotation sources operating entirely independently: the rotation of civil minutes, and that controlled by the lever in contact with the equation of time cam, which makes one full turn per year.
Breguet has developed an extremely slim equation cam borne by a transparent sapphire disc also serving to correct the equation of time by month.
The exceptional complexity of this complication is naturally complemented by a useful perpetual calendar. The two apertures – one between 10 and 11 o’clock and the other between 1 and 2 o’clock – respectively display the day of the week and the month together with the leap-year cycle.
The date appears inside the chapter ring by means of a retrograde hand tipped with an anchor motif and sweeping across an arc running from 9 to 3 o’clock.
Based on the self-winding 581DR calibre, the new Marine Équation Marchante also features a 60-second tourbillon with a titanium carriage housing a Breguet balance with a silicon balance spring. Beating at a frequency of 4Hz (28,800 vph), it offers a power reserve of 80 hours which is displayed through an aperture between 7 and 9 o’clock.
The front dial features two types of engine-turning, including a "wave" pattern perfectly in line with the marine theme. The inscription "Marine royale" is engraved on the tourbillon bar.
On the back, the bridges are engraved with a representation of the Royal Louis, a first rank vessel in the French Royal Navy. The windrose motif adorning the barrel is a clear reference to astronomical navigation. Positioned on the rim of the calibre, the oscillating weight leaves an unobstructed view of the beautiful decorations.
A true masterpiece, the Breguet Marine Équation Marchante 5887 has a price of around Euro 212,500 / US$ 215,000 in red gold and Euro 227,500 / US$ 230,000 in platinum. breguet.com
This was the most prestigious title a horologist could hope to receive, given that the very concept of marine chronometry implied scientific knowledge. It also involved playing a crucial role for the country, as marine chronometers were of capital importance for fleets by making it possible to calculate ships’ positions at sea.
One of the pillars of the current Breguet production, the Marine collection interprets this unique heritage with contemporary timepieces with all the qualities that one expects from a Breguet timepiece.
Breguet is now launching worldwide a new model that marks the start of a new era - technically and aesthetically - for this collection: the Marine Équation Marchante 5887.
In terms of design, this new complication model is characterised by central lugs combining polished and satin-brushed surfaces, more open fluting with visible flanks, a crown topped with a polished "B" against a sandblasted background.
The new Marine Équation Marchante comes in a 43.9 mm-diameter case in rose gold or platinum. The rose gold version frames a silvered dial and an anthracite movement, while the platinum interpretation has a blue dial and a rhodium-plated movement.
Technically speaking, the precious timepiece features a running equation of time, a perpetual calendar and a tourbillon together with a power reserve indicator.
The equation of time - which gives the name to the model - is one of the rarest and most fascinating horological complications. It serves to display the difference between mean solar time, corresponding to civil or standard hours and minutes, and true solar time, meaning the actual solar hours and minutes.
In fact, while within the conventional time - or mean solar time - each day has the same duration of exactly 24 hours, the true solar time is irregular.
Mean solar time may show a discrepancy with true solar time ranging from minus 16 minutes to plus 14 minutes. On just four days a year, the two times are exactly the same. Given that the sun’s various positions in the sky are reproduced in an identical manner on the same dates, watchmakers can “program” them by means of a special cam. The latter is shaped like a figure 8 and mechanically reproduces the path of the sun’s successive positions, called an analemma curve.
The new Marine Équation Marchante from Breguet supersedes this principle by simultaneously indicating civil time and true time by means of two separate minutes hands.
The running solar hand, adorned with a faceted golden sun, provides a direct reading of solar time minutes that is both quicker and more user-friendly.
Breguet has developed an extremely slim equation cam borne by a transparent sapphire disc also serving to correct the equation of time by month.
The exceptional complexity of this complication is naturally complemented by a useful perpetual calendar. The two apertures – one between 10 and 11 o’clock and the other between 1 and 2 o’clock – respectively display the day of the week and the month together with the leap-year cycle.
The date appears inside the chapter ring by means of a retrograde hand tipped with an anchor motif and sweeping across an arc running from 9 to 3 o’clock.
Based on the self-winding 581DR calibre, the new Marine Équation Marchante also features a 60-second tourbillon with a titanium carriage housing a Breguet balance with a silicon balance spring. Beating at a frequency of 4Hz (28,800 vph), it offers a power reserve of 80 hours which is displayed through an aperture between 7 and 9 o’clock.
The front dial features two types of engine-turning, including a "wave" pattern perfectly in line with the marine theme. The inscription "Marine royale" is engraved on the tourbillon bar.
On the back, the bridges are engraved with a representation of the Royal Louis, a first rank vessel in the French Royal Navy. The windrose motif adorning the barrel is a clear reference to astronomical navigation. Positioned on the rim of the calibre, the oscillating weight leaves an unobstructed view of the beautiful decorations.
A true masterpiece, the Breguet Marine Équation Marchante 5887 has a price of around Euro 212,500 / US$ 215,000 in red gold and Euro 227,500 / US$ 230,000 in platinum. breguet.com
I believe this is one of the best implementation of the equation of time because it is easily and instantly readable. Magnifique!
ReplyDeleteFine watchmaking still exists!
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