Breguet Gives a Modern Twist to the Tradition Collection, with 5 new References (Incl. Video)

Born in 2005 as the reference 7027 (a compact 37mm model with power reserve indicator and hand-wound movement), the Breguet Tradition has since become a classic of the brand and one of its most recognisable watches. It’s also one with possibly the strongest connection to the past. It’s not a vintage re-edition done the classic way; the Tradition did something even more interesting: bringing an old pocket watch movement, that of the Souscription and Tact watches of the late 18th-century, in a wristwatch format. For 2026, Breguet lightly updates the recipe by giving several models a more contemporary feel, through the use of sharp colours, new textures and sleeker dials.

The Tradition collection was launched in 2005. The first model, the reference 7027, was compact, hand-wound and fairly simple regarding its display (time and power reserve). But it defined what the collection would become. The idea was fairly simple but brilliant: taking inspiration from the architecture of one of the most handsomely-built movements of Breguet’s past, inverting it and encasing it in a wristwatch format. And while you might think this is now a fairly traditional recipe, it was a striking one in 2005.

The initial source of inspiration is not the exterior of a watch, as we often see in vintage re-editions, but a movement. And to be precise, a calibre that was first conceptualised in 1796, and marketed from 1797 onwards, housed in the all-time classic Souscription pocket watches – a topic explained extensively here. Later, the same base movement would be used as of 1799 in the Tact pocket watches (montres à tact). This movement is characterised by its clever simplicity, and is built around a central barrel, around which all moving elements – gear train, regulating organ – are placed in a elegant symmetry, with stepped triangular bridges and innovative technical solutions such as temperature compensation for the carbon steel balance spring, shock protection for the balance pivots (Breguet’s pare-chute) and a ruby cylinder escapement.

The Tradition had all of these elements front-facing, with a newly developed movement with an identical layout, including the central barrel, the stepped bridges, the 5-spoke wheels and even a modern shock absorber concealed under a para-chute-like element. The simple and legible mechanical arrangement was an instant success, paired with an off-centred display of the time in a classic Breguet guilloché. The collection will later expand with the Tradition 40mm 7057, the Tradition Seconde Retrograde 7097, the Tradition GMT 7067, the Tradition Chronograph 7077, the Tradition Quantième Rétrograde 7597, several feminine versions (7035, 7038), the 250th-anniversary reference 7035 or the all-mighty Tradition Tourbillon Fusée 7047.

In 2026, Breguet is revitalising its Tradition collection, by introducing 2 new Tradition 7037, a new 7097 and a new 7038 (all distinguished by a retrograde small seconds display), as well as a striking take on the Tradition 7067 with dual-time display.

Tradition Seconde Retrograde 7037

The Tradition Seconde Retrograde 7037 now represents the most focused version within the collection, as the classic hand-wound 7027 and 7057 models are not available anymore. This watch, with its compact 38mm, goes back to the roots of the collection in terms of proportions, yet with a bit more complexity and the practicality of an automatic movement. What is surprising but welcome is the fact that the 7037 isn’t a new model, but one that was discontinued and now comes back. Indeed, the Tradition Seconde Retrograde was only available in 40mm, as the reference 7097, for several years.

What we’re looking at here is a duo of 38mm Tradition Seconde Retrograde models, housed in 18k white gold (7037BB) or 950 platinum (7037PT), with a fresh, more modern, sleeker look. Both models retain the classic Breguet case with fluted casebands and welded straight lugs, and are 12.7mm in thickness. Another touch of modernity is to be seen on the straps, made of textured rubber with light grey stitching – a bold choice that matches surprisingly well these watches. The main novelty has to be seen through the movements, which are entirely coated in blue or black, with all moving elements plated in rhodium for a monochromatic look. The barrel cover also gets a hand-guilloché snailed pattern, adding some depth to the display.

In addition, to give these two references a sleeker look, the off-centred dial is crafted from traditional white Grand Feu enamel instead of the usual guilloché dial, as well as replacing Roman with Arabic numerals. The white gold edition comes with a white enamel dial, while the black and platinum model receives a striking black enamel sub-dial.

Under the sapphire back is the in-house, automatic calibre 505 SR. This architectural movement might feel antique at first, but it is equipped with several modern touches, such as a silicon balance spring. This 3Hz, 50h power reserve movement is wound by a central rotor in platinum that mimics the look of old perpetuelle watches by Breguet. The blue and white gold Tradition Seconde Retrograde 7037 retails for CHF 45,200, and the platinum model for CHF 49,700.

Quick facts: 38mm x 12.7mm white gold or platinum case, fluted with welded lugs, sapphire crystals, 30m WR – enamel dial in white or black, Arabic numerals, steel open-tipped hands – Calibre 505 SR, automatic, 38 jewels, 3Hz, 50h power reserve, hours, minutes, retrograde seconds – blue or black rubber strap with pin buckle

Tradition Seconde Rétrograde 7097

Next in line is a familiar watch, but with a new, softer and very elegant treatment, a rose gold take on the Tradition Seconde Rétrograde 7097. This larger 40mm version of the same concept as above has been in the collection since 2015, available in multiple materials and colours, ranging from classic to bold and modern.  Without changing the technical side of this reference, Breguet now gives it a sleeker and very subtle palette of colour, with its 40mm x 11.8mm case made of rose gold, paired with a grey nubuck-like calfskin strap.

Most of the evolution is on the dial, first with a movement coated in a charcoal grey, paired with new finishes for the barrel cover, as well as the gear train and balance rim, all rose gold coloured. Also new is a semi-circular segment in satin-brushed, finely sandblasted gold for the retrograde second, which no longer overlaps the main dial. Talking about the latter, it is here rendered in white grand feu enamel, with blue Arabic numerals and blued steel hands. Inside, the Breguet Calibre 505 SR1 retains its 50-hour power reserve, driven by a white gold Breguet-signed oscillating weight shaped just like the one designed by A.-L. Breguet for his first perpétuelle watch.

The new rose gold Tradition Seconde Rétrograde 7097 will be priced at CHF 43,200.

Quick facts: 40mm x 11.8mm rose gold case, fluted with welded lugs, sapphire crystals, 30m WR – enamel dial in white, Arabic numerals, steel open-tipped hands – Calibre 505 SR1, automatic, 38 jewels, 3Hz, 50h power reserve, hours, minutes, retrograde seconds – Grey calfskin strap

Tradition GMT 7067

The new Tradition GMT 7067 draws on the design cues of the eponymous model already in the collection, with one major difference, and a resulting watch that feels far more striking and modern; a green gradient grand feu enamel dial, paired once again with Arabic numerals instead of the Roman numerals usually found on the guilloché model. It is paired here with a dark grey, ruthenium-like movement coating, silver-toned rhodium-plated wheels, a GMT sub-dial in black, and a barrel cover in black with a hand-guilloché snailed pattern.

This 40mm version, made of 950 platinum, once again draws on modern inspirations with a textured black rubber strap with green stitching. This GMT version displays the local time at 12 o’clock while home time sits slightly more discreetly in the sub-dial at 8 o’clock, with a day/night indicator at 10 o’clock. And a first for the collection, home time is available in a choice of two fonts: Arabic or Oriental numerals. The GMT function is adjustable via a pusher at 10 o’clock.

Housed in a classic 40mm x 12.1mm Breguet case with fluted casebands and welded lugs is the in-house calibre 507DRF, retaining the classic architecture of the collection with, this time, a hand-wound architecture. This 3Hz movement stores 50h of power reserve. It will retail for CHF 62,800.

Quick facts: 40mm x 12.1mm white gold case, fluted with welded lugs, sapphire crystals, 30m WR – enamel dial in gradient green, Arabic numerals, steel open-tipped hands – Calibre 507DRF manual, 40 jewels, 3Hz, 3Hz, 50h power reserve, hours, minutes, second time zone, day/night indicator – black rubber strap

Tradition Seconde Rétrograde 7038

Last but not least is a compact, feminine version of the classic Seconde Rétrograde concept, with a new reference 7038. Housed in a 37mm white gold case, it features a bezel set with 58 brilliant-cut diamonds, paired with classic fluted casebands and welded lugs. Stones are also found on the white gold pin buckle, set with 25 diamonds and closing a black satin-finish fabric strap.

In line with the other watches above, this new version has been treated in a more modern manner, with a fully-black movement coating, shotblasted bridges and mainplate and silver-toned moving elements. The barrel cover has a sunburst guilloché finish, and the oscillating weight also gets the same decoration. The dial, with Arabic numerals, is here made of black aventurine glass dial with silver-toned powdered transfers. Inside is the same automatic movement as found in the 7037 models above, the Calibre 505SR. This version will retail for CHF 50,600.

Quick facts: 37mm x 11.6mm white gold case, fluted with welded lugs, sapphire crystals, 30m WR – black aventurine glass dial, steel open-tipped hands – Calibre 505 SR, automatic, 38 jewels, 3Hz, 50h power reserve, hours, minutes, retrograde seconds – black satin-finish fabric strap

For more details, please visit www.breguet.com.