Breguet’s Marvelous Tradition Chronograph 7077, Now in Blue

The Breguet Tradition collection is not only a tribute to the brand’s past, with clear historical references and movements that are designed to mimic those of antique pocket watches, but it’s also home to serious complications. And one of them is, without a doubt, the Tradition Chronographe Indépendant 7077. A complex watch built in a truly original and ingenious way, the chronograph mechanism is completely independent and autonomous. First presented in 2015 and something of a hidden gem in the brand’s collection, it now returns in a modern-looking combination of white gold and Breguet blue for the dial.

A watch that has been in the collection for over nine years now, the Tradition Chronograph 7077 was previously available in white gold with classic silvered accents or in pink gold. But there’s a third version now, with the classic blue colour of the brand, joining the Tradition Retrograde Seconde (below, left), the Tradition Quantième Retrograde (below, middle) and the glorious Tradition Tourbillon Fusée-and-Chain (below, right), in the same colour.

Breguet Tradition Seconde Rétrograde 7097

Breguet Tradition Quantiéme Retrograde 7597

Breguet Tradition Tourbillon Fusée 7047

Breguet’s Tradition Chronograph

But let’s quickly return to the movement inside the Tradition Chronographe Indépendant 7077, which we have explored in-depth here. Most chronographs are built around a mechanism driving the time indication and a chronograph mechanism that engages with this base movement when it is started, thanks to a coupling mechanism or clutch. The chronograph is driven by the timekeeping mechanism, generating friction, loss of amplitude and lowered power reserve. The Breguet 7077 mechanism, however, is built with a chronograph mechanism that is completely independent and autonomous.

There is no interaction between the timekeeping indication and the chronograph. On one side, an independent sub-movement – composed of one barrel, one gear train, and one oscillator – manages timekeeping. On the other side, an independent mechanism, with its own energy source, gear train and oscillator, regulates the chronograph functions. On the right side is the going train for the time indication, which is regulated by a 3Hz oscillator and has a power reserve of 55 hours. On the left side is the chronograph part, which operates at a 5Hz frequency (thus capable of displaying the 1/10th of a second), with a balance wheel fashioned out of lightweight titanium. Both sub-movements come with a silicon Breguet hairspring and silicon pallet escapements.

One of the subtleties of the Tradition Chronograph 7077 comes from the source of power for the chronograph, as it isn’t a traditional spring coiled into a barrel. The energy is stored in a flexed blade spring that requires less space. The resulting power reserve for the chronograph mechanism is rated at about 20 minutes, sufficient to measure short periods of time. A smart and practical solution, this blade is flexed when resetting the chronograph. So, you never need to worry about winding the chronograph mechanism. Pressing the reset pusher flexes and arms the blade spring. Finally, the chronograph mechanism is controlled by two brakes. Its titanium balance wheel is freed when the chronograph is started and blocked when it is stopped. A chronograph activation indicator is located at 6 o’clock.

The New Blue Tradition Chronograph 7077

While technically identical, this new version of the Breguet 7077 Chrono adds a touch of modernity and boldness to a collection that has always had great appeal. Although it is modelled after antique watches, the Tradition feels highly technical and has a contemporary look. The imposing white gold case, with classic Breguet fluted bands and straight soldered lugs, measures 44mm in diameter and 14.1mm in height, yet the length remains under control at 48.65mm. The crown is classically positioned at 3 o’clock while the screw-locked chronograph pushers at 4 and 8 o’clock bring an unconventional design touch.

The base of the movement, which is entirely visible through the front sapphire crystal, retains the traditional matte grey frosted finish of the collection, as well as the appealing architectural and historically relevant stepped finger bridges. The shock protection system for the balance wheels highlights one of Breguet’s inventions, the “Parachute”, with its distinctive blade spring to hold the pivots. The finishing is, as always with Tradition watches, quite impressive.

What’s new are the blue touches of colour, which can be found on the inner precision track for the chronograph, as well as the solid gold off-centred guilloché dial with its clous de Paris pattern. The latter, indicating the hours and minutes with rhodium-plated open-tipped Breguet hands, also includes two arched tracks for the 20-minute chronograph counter and the power reserve indicator.

Through the sapphire caseback, you can see the rest of the movement. And while there is no regulating organ visible, there’s still a lot going on, including multiple finger-like bridges and, at the bottom, the blade device that serves as a source of energy for the chronograph. As with the dial side, the decoration and finishing are impressive but not overly demonstrative.

As you’d expect, the alligator leather strap is the same dark blue colour as the dial and is closed by a white gold triple-blade folding clasp. Available from the permanent collection, the new Breguet Tradition Chronographe Indépendant 7077BB will be priced at CHF 86,500 (incl. taxes).

For more details, please visit Breguet.com.