Breguet

The tourbillon has become one of the most recognisable complications in the field of horology. Invented by the prolific and decorated watchmaker Abraham-Louis Breguet towards the end of the 18th century for the purpose of negating the impact of gravity on a movement’s balance wheel by constantly rotating it, thus increasing the overall accuracy, the complication was indeed useful in pocket watches as they remained in a constant vertical position while worn. 

However, as pocket watches fell out of fashion steadily after the First World War, the complication was made virtually redundant as a wearer’s wrist remains almost constantly in motion, effectively serving the same purpose as a tourbillon. The complication itself, however, did not lose favour in the world of horology, and instead became a sign of opulence and craftsmanship.

The complication, after over two centuries, is featured once again in a Breguet watch. The present reference 5837 not only features a beautiful rendition of the classic complication, visible through a dial-side cutout, it also adds a chronograph mechanism to the watch for increased utilitarianism.