n line with Abraham-Louis Breguet’s vision of making technical innovation accessible, a philosophy that has driven the Maison for over two centuries, the Tradition Chronographe Indépendant 7077 emphasises precise short-time measurement with an intense hue: the “Breguet Blue”.

Introduced into the Tradition collection, which draws inspiration from the renowned subscription and tact watches developed by the Maison’s founder, the “Breguet Blue” now graces the face of the Tradition Chronographe Indépendant 7077, enhancing its modern aesthetic. This colour introduces new contrasts that intensify readability and highlight the technical architecture, offering an unobstructed view of the dual balance wheels in action.

From his earliest creations at his Île de la Cité workshop installed in 1775, and his success among the elite, the talented master watchmaker aimed to make time accessible to all. He envisioned producing small series of simple instruments at affordable prices, contrasting with his contemporaries, whose unique pieces were reserved for a select few.

This ambition, which foreshadowed future large-scale commercialisation, advertising publications, and industrial production, led him to design the subscription watch in the late 18th century. This quality piece, typically featuring a single hand and large diameter, housed a reliable and precise mechanism that was easy to maintain. It could be acquired by paying a deposit of approximately a quarter of the sale price upon ordering.

This intent to democratise time through a minimalist model culminated over two centuries later, with the 2005 launch of the Tradition collection. These watches transparently showcase their metallic architecture of bridges and gears on the dial, akin to a kinetic art piece.

With its impressive geometric appearance, particularly the symmetrical design of its displays and dual balance wheels, this reference also boasts innovative mechanics, conceived and patented by Breguet, within the manual-winding calibre 580DR.

Despite its seemingly complex appearance, the symmetrical design of this 44mm diameter and 14.1mm thick watch offers remarkably efficient readability with perfectly arranged elements. At 12 o’clock, the hours and minutes are indicated by two rhodium-plated Breguet open-tipped hands on a “Breguet Blue” gold dial, engine-turned by hand with a Clous de Paris pattern, surrounded by white Roman numerals.

Two overlapping arcs are present on this dial: on the left, the chronograph’s 20-minute counter, driven by the central chronograph hand; and on the right, the power reserve indicator.

At the bottom of the movement, encircled by a “Breguet Blue” inner bezel and flanked by the two balance wheels at 8 and 4 o’clock, a small rhodium-plated arrow indicates whether the chronograph function is “ON” or “OFF”.

In a conventional chronograph, measuring elapsed time provides immediate visualisation of the desired function, however its implementation poses an additional mechanical challenge, as activating this function can disrupt the main gear trains. This issue is absent in Breguet’s Tradition Chronographe Indépendant 7077, due to the two entirely separate gear trains within the manual-winding calibre 580DR.

The first gear train, responsible for hours and minutes, is regulated by a balance wheel oscillating at a gentle frequency of 3Hz, visible on the right side of the dial beneath the power reserve indicator, which offers a 55-hour reserve. The second gear train operates at a high frequency of 5Hz, enhancing stability and ensuring precise chronograph readings. With this frequency, the chronograph achieves exceptional precision, allowing timing to the tenth of a second, ensuring high reliability for short-time measurements - a testament to the ongoing advancements pushing the boundaries of mechanical timekeeping precision.

Typically, a second gear train necessitates an additional barrel, requiring more space and the winding of both the chronograph and timekeeping barrels. In the Tradition Chronographe Indépendant 7077, Breguet employs a single barrel with a spring perfectly suited for the chronograph function.

The energy required for the chronograph is supplied when the reset function is activated and is stored in a flexed blade spring. This reserve lasts up to 20 minutes, ideal for short-time measurements, and ensures instant chronograph start-up, as the available energy is always at its peak. A non-concentric gear is paired with the blade spring to smooth the torque, achieving constant amplitude and chronograph operation. This blade spring-gear system is patented by Breguet.

The chronograph function of this white gold-cased Tradition model is operated by two screw-down pushers, preventing unintended activation. Unlike other chronographs, the pusher at 4 o’clock on the fluted case band starts the timing, while the other stops and resets it.

Activating the reset function flexes and arms the blade spring, preparing the chronograph for a new measurement. The titanium balance wheel is equipped with two stop systems: the first, operated by a cam, releases the balance wheel at the chronograph’s start and holds it at stop; the second halts the balance wheel when insufficient energy remains for complete operation. Thus, the balance wheel is always in the optimal position, achieving its amplitude instantly. This innovative mechanism is patented.

Features reminiscent of the Tradition collection’s historical roots include the patented pare-chute shock protection and the control system of the “chronometer with double seconds, known as observation,” reference 4009, sold by Breguet on January 6, 1825.

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

Reference 7077BB/GY/9XV

Key options

• Tradition Chronographe Indépendant 7077, equipped with the manually wound calibre 580DR, offers hours and minutes at a 3Hz frequency with a 55-hour power reserve and a chronograph at a 5Hz frequency with a 20-minute power reserve. The 44mm 18K white gold case showcases a fluted caseband, screw-locked pushers, and an 18K gold dial with “Breguet Blue” galvanic treatment and Clous de Paris handmade guilloche. It includes a 20-minute counter, a power reserve indicator, and a chronograph activation/deactivation indicator.

Case

• 18K white gold, 23mm between lugs, 48.65mm lug-to-lug distance, 44mm diameter, 14.1mm thickness
• Fluted caseband
• Sapphire crystal case back with inner anti-reflective coating
• Screw-locked chronograph pushers
• Sapphire crystal with inner anti-reflective coating
• 3 bar (30m) of water resistance

Dial

• Off-centered 18K gold dial with “Breguet Blue” galvanic treatment and Clous de Paris handmade guilloche
• Satin-finished circular hour ring
• White Roman numerals
• Sectors and rehaut in 18K gold with “Breguet Blue” galvanic treatment
• Rhodium-plated open-tipped Breguet hands for hours and minutes
• Straight rhodium-plated central chronograph hand
• Rhodium-plated 18K gold hands for the 20-minute counter and power reserve indicator
• Rhodium-plated arrow hand for chronograph function indicator

Movement

• Calibre 580DR, individually numbered and signed by Breguet, 16 lines, 417 components, 62 jewels
• Hand-wounding
• Standard operation frequency: 3Hz (21,600 vibrations per hour)
• Chronograph frequency: 5Hz (36,000 vibrations per hour)
• Breguet silicon balance springs
• Dual independent Breguet balance wheels, one in Grade 5 titanium, the other in cupro-beryllium
• Single barrel
• 55-hour power reserve
• 20-minute power reserve for the chronograph function
• Anthracite-coated bridges and mainplate

Indicators

• Hours and minutes at 12 o’clock
• Central chronograph hand
• 20-minute counter at 10 o’clock
• Power reserve indicator at 2 o’clock
• Chronograph ON/OFF indicator at 6 o’clock

Bracelet

• “Breguet Blue” alligator leather
• 18K white gold triple-blade folding clasp 20mm clasp width

Variations

• 18K white gold case with silvered, hand-engraved dial, blued steel hands, black alligator strap (Ref. 7077BB/G1/9XV)
• 18K rose gold case with silvered, hand-engraved dial, blued steel hands, brown alligator strap (Ref. 7077BR/G1/9XV)