Description
Classique Chronométrie wristwatch in 18-carat rose gold. High-frequency escapement ( 10Hz ) composed of a magnetic balance with double balance spring, lever and escape wheel in silicon. Hand-wound movement with running seconds. 1/10th of a second subdial and power-reserve indicator. Silvered gold dial, handengraved on a rose engine. Sapphire caseback. Water-resistant to 3 bar ( 30 m ). Diameter : 41mm. Also in white gold.
With the patent of November 9, 2010 protecting the magnetic pivot, Breguet has set a new milestone in watchmaking history by using magnetism to improve the precision and the reliability of its timepieces. It is likely that the impact of this important invention will not be fully assessed for some years yet. The magnetic pivot consists of a carbon-steel balance staff and a ‘rare-earth’ magnet behind each endstone. One of the magnets is stronger than the other so that the balance-staff is in permanent contact with the endstone on the dial side and thus appears to be suspended.
Since the magnetic bond between the shaft and the endstone is stronger than the force of gravity, the shaft continues to pivot on the endstone irrespective of the position of the watch. Breguet’s advances in magnetism have also resulted in an unprecedented mechanism to improve the pivoting, rotation and the stability of the balance shaft. Furthermore, the system performs the role of a shock absorber. If a blow shifts the pivot out of position the magnetic attraction pulling it back increases with the extent of the pivot’s lateral displacement. The shaft thus returns automatically to its position, restoring the maximum magnetic flux.
