Breguet

Breguet La Tradition – an essay
Jul 07 2008,20:16 PM

Three years of planning, several visits to watch boutiques for a ‘test drive’, pleasant get-togethers with other owners and a lot of thought and research and I finally have a yellow gold, manual wind La Tradition 7027BA/11/9V6 (Cal. 507DR) on my wrist. A watch that is now well known to you and far from the ‘new kid on the block’, but I always take my time making long term commitments and I enjoy the ‘journey’ as much as the destination.

While I can’t add much to the photographic record on the La Tradition already amassed on this Forum, I thought I would give you my perspective and thoughts on this important watch in the Breguet family.

One of the main pleasures I get from horology is to be able to gaze at and appreciate movements. I enjoy the Reverso Grand Date because I can flip it over to view the movement; however it is inconvenient to quickly tell the time. The La Tradition allows me an uninterrupted view of its very three-dimensional movement through the large antireflective crystal; it is wonderful to see the oscillating 10mm balance wheel peeking out from under a French cuff. The ‘flow’ of power from the central barrel through the going train to the in-line lever escapement is logically laid out for one to contemplate. Those who enjoy the aural side of mechanical watches will not be disappointed either, as there is a clearly audible ticking sound apparent as I type this at my desk (the La Tradition beats at 21,600 vph – 3Hz).

I love the history of horology. I realise that the Breguet company history is rather patchy in places, but who can argue with the name of this masterful Swiss-borne French horologist. The La Tradition channels many of the design features that are so emblematic of A.-L. Breguet’s work: the layout of the stepped bridges, the central main spring, the frosted guilt finish (apparently sandblasted by hand) and the yellow gold case. Not to mention the modern update on the parachute, the overcoiled hairspring, the deeply heat-blued screws, the engine turned guilloche dial and the soldered lugs.

There is enough variety of surfaces, textures and colours from frosting to polished screws to blued hands to red rubies (all 34 of them) to keep your eyes entertained for hours. The hand turned dial contrasts very well with the gold of the watch. As an aside, some have questioned the readability of this 14mm silvered sub-dial, but given the colour contrast with the blued Breguet hands, it is actually very easy at a glance to tell the time from the position of the hands. I wish Breguet had been able to fit a secret signature somewhere on this dial, but the watches individual number is included in a cartouche in the typical Breguet style.

The La Tradition changes its character under different lighting conditions; something that is apparent if you look back through the archive of images posted here and elsewhere. Breguet watches have a rich lustre which is also present on this unusually coloured gold, chosen to match the colour of the alloy used for early Breguet timepieces. Natural light at sunrise and sunset and candlelight (particularly with your favourite partner!) really accentuates this inner warmth and glow.

The La Tradition has a 50 hour power reserve with a subtle but useful power reserve indicator on the front and reverse. The winding is not buttery smooth, but is precise and confidence inspiring with its well proportioned signed crown. The accuracy of the La Tradition is perhaps less easy to determine due to the absence of a second hand, but using a magnifying loupe and the peripheral minute markers around the dial, the watch was accurate to within 10 seconds over a 14 day period of daily winding and continuous use. The large free-sprung balance wheel and the Breguet overcoil no doubt contribute to this excellent performance.

Did I mention the beautiful 37x11.8mm case? Breguet may have been known for their thin and elegant movements and watches, but I love the size and proportion of this case with its traditional cold-rolled fluted sides. Personally I wouldn’t want the La Tradition to be any bigger. The strait lugs and the ‘wall-to-wall’ crystal make this watch wear quite large on the wrist. The brown crocodile strap beautifully accentuates the gold and the buckle is simple and elegant. The band is rather rigid from new and nowhere near as supple or comfortable as, say, a Journe band, but it softens with time and wears well.

I realise that the La Tradition is a rather polarising watch and not everyone loves the design, but you have to admit that it is hard to mistake it for anything else. Perhaps not as versatile as some, but one can wear the La Tradition as a distinctive dress watch to the opera or equally well in an office environment.

Do I sound like I am in love? The answer is probably yes. The La Tradition is a beautiful study in French watchmaking tradition, re-invented by the Swiss, the birthplace of Abraham-Louise Breguet himself.

My apologies for the long essay; I hope this information will be helpful for others considering making a commitment to this watch.

Enjoy the journey.

Andrew

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Congrats on your Breguet 7027!
Jul 07 2008,21:34 PM

Hi AndrewD,

Congrats on the new Breguet!  Thanks for posting your experience, very well written and interesting to hear your thoughts on the La Tradition.  Nice photos too.

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Warm glow
Jul 07 2008,22:51 PM

Hi Ed,

Thanks for your kind comments.

Some people seem to see the YG La Tradition as rather flashy. I tend to so see a warm richness, which you managed to capture in your avatar and which I tried to show in my pictures. Wearing it with dark colours, particularly black, really brings this out.

Regards

Andrew

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Congrats Andrew
Jul 08 2008,00:02 AM

Hi Andrew,

Thanks for sharing this journey and its happy ending.  The is just as much pleasure as the catch.

I looks like the watch has settled in nicely with your wardrobe.  Very versatile I must say.

Thanks for sharing.

Bill

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I never considered the La Tradition as versatile, but…
Jul 08 2008,04:55 AM

Hi Bill,

 

While clearly not a casual watch, I find that the La Tradition goes quite comfortably with a variety of business and formal outfits. We are heading off to hear the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra this weekend and I will certainly be giving it an outing to the Concert Hall. The Opera strikes me as another natural haunt of the La Tradition…

 

Regards

 

Andrew

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Dress it down a bit
Jul 08 2008,20:55 PM

And it is quite versatile.  I have mine on a smooth brown Cordovan strap, and I wear it to work (read shorts and a T-Shirt) all the time.  The picture isn't my best work, but you can see the design, and thinness of the strap

-a

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Letting its hair down…
Jul 08 2008,23:34 PM

Hi Aaron,

 

Thanks for the image. I think I need to relax my definitions of casual and dress watches a bit.  I tend to grab the Speedy Pro or a Pilot watch for weekends, but I will certainly allow the Breguet to let its hair down a bit!

 

Andrew

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It is just practical
Jul 09 2008,08:36 AM

If I saved my nice watches for when I wore a suit, they'd sit in the box 11 months out of the year!
a

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Enjoy !!
Jul 08 2008,03:01 AM

Nice to read your comments !
I could have written most of those sentences as well. I got mine about 8 months ago and although I was a bit afraid about how yellow gold would look on my wrist, I enjoy it  a bit more every day. As you said, the watch can be appreciated at different time of the day according to the light. Even on a cloudy day, it brings some sun !
Funny thing is that my colleagues and friends just love it. I thought it might be too extreme, but nope, they really appreciated.

So, enjoy this really great watch !

Christian.

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Not flashy...
Jul 08 2008,05:03 AM

Thanks Christian,

 

Good to hear that you are getting so much pleasure from your La Tradition – that was obvious in the photos you shared here as well.

 

I am not one for ‘flashy’ watches, and the La Tradition is rather more subdued and ‘traditional’ than one might first think.

 

Andrew

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One of my all time favorite pieces
Jul 08 2008,04:09 AM

and yes this was one enjoyable ride thnx

Damian

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Thanks Damian. A watch for the heart and soul and mind. [nt]
Jul 08 2008,05:06 AM

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Thanks for the review Andrew! Your first paragraph
Jul 08 2008,06:07 AM

describes the exact situation I find myself in with the La Tradition...

I hope to have wrist shots of my own someday.

Cheers, Mike

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Thanks Mike. I look forward to some 'in the wild' wrist shots someday. [nt]
Jul 08 2008,15:43 PM

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Very nice essay, Andrew!
Jul 08 2008,06:39 AM

God, I love these essays!
You elaborated in such a nice way your love and interest for this Breguet that I think you will create some contamination effect!
The Tradition is well called.
True Breguet DNA, nicely finished, very cool and elegant design.
This watch has all for it, in WG or YG, it doesn't matter.
Thanks a lot for sharing this moment of love and true passion with us, andrew.
Nicolas

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Agony and ecstasy…
Jul 08 2008,15:34 PM

Dear Nicolas

 

I appreciate your kind comments. I know you are drawn to the La Tradition as well.  The French connection with Breguet must also be a point of nationalistic pride.

 

Interestingly it was the existence of the WG La Tradition that slowed down my purchase of this watch.  Around 12 months ago I walked into an AD with money in pocket for the YG La Tradition. I tried on the WG version just for ‘fun’ and that’s where the difficulty started. I have said before how different these two versions are, and I love them both for different reasons. 

 

My final decision to go with the YG was more an intellectual one, based on its faithfulness to A.-L. Breguet’s original colour palette.

 

Agonizing over the colour was part of the ‘journey’ I described, and is what makes the final purchase more special.

 

Regards

 

Andrew

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Striking watch!
Jul 08 2008,07:56 AM

Personally, I can't differentiate between a wheel or a barrel or a parachute....but I can tell you IMO, this is one of the most beautiful watches ever made. 

Wear in good health!

palmasea

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A watch for the mind and heart...
Jul 08 2008,15:52 PM

Hi Palmasea,

The La tradition appeals on so many levels:

Intellectually one can learn about the basic building blocks of a mechanical watch.

On an emotional level you can respond to the aesthetics of the design and finish.

... and because modern horology is built on such an important historical foundation, it's nice to be reminded of A.-L. Breguet's contribution.

Regards

Andrew

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The importance of open face watches!
Jul 08 2008,22:11 PM

You hit it right on the nose...for someone like me, who is more into esthetics and comfort, having a tremendously well built mechanism hidden inside of a watch, does not excite me that much...i.e. the only Patek's that excite me are the one's I really find I'm emotionally attracted to such as the Nautilus line or the 5070 or 5960. But even then, it's hard to justify the price because you are not seeing the movement, and for all practical purposes, the watch keeping precision is not a factor...

So by having the movement shown, the buyer can better appreciate what he or she is really paying for, and like you say, learn more about the workings and complications of a mechanical timepiece.

Every time I go to a watch store I always stare at the tradition, eventhough I don't really identify with the brand in general.

What has always steered me away from this watch is 1) I'm always dressed in casual jeans, and 2) like you mentioned, I was afraid that telling time was not going to be easy. But after your review, I believe I'm going to be spending even more time staring at that breguet case.

Enjoy your watch, and drive carefully, because I believe you are going to be staring at it all day and night!

Palmasea

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Ticking all the boxes…
Jul 08 2008,23:27 PM

Hi Palmasea,

 

There are sometimes discussions on PuristS about the pros and cons of display backs. I have some antimagnetic watches as well as ‘tool’ (predominantly pilot’s) watches and some vintage pieces with solid backs. I can understand why these pieces have solid backs and appreciate them for the attributes that you mention: case and dial design, comfort, ruggedness etc.

 

However, it was the mechanical movements that first attracted me to mechanical watches; otherwise I might as well buy quartz (please pass the soap…). So I like to be able to see what attracts me.

 

Apart from some Audemars Piguet and Daniel Roth watches, most skeletonised movements do not provide the necessary level of finesse to keep me happy. As I mentioned, I like JLC Reversos with display backs (or is that display fronts?) for the very reason that I can have the movement on display, but time telling is less convenient.

 

Then along came the La Tradition which seemed to be the answer to my prayers; a watch that ticked (?tocked) all the important horological boxes for me: history, design, finish, size and the movement was there to enjoy.

 

Apart from the Marine 5817 and the Classique 3137 I am not overly drawn to other Breguet’s. Even for tourbillons, despite the historical connection, I would be knocking at the house of Journe, not Breguet. However, the La Tradition has a special place; despite channelling everything that Breguet represents, the watch itself seems to transcend the brand itself.

 

If you promise to keep staring at the La Tradition, I will try and keep my eyes on the road.

 

Kindest regards,

 

Andrew

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Thanks a lot Andrew for this superb post and review ! [nt]
Jul 08 2008,12:20 PM

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very nice looking watch. [nt]
Jul 08 2008,14:20 PM

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I may be going mad, but..
Jul 08 2008,16:03 PM

Hi Graham,

Thanks for your note.  It would be great to see the YG La Tradition side by side with your UN Freak one day. I may be going mad, but I actually see quite a number of similarities between these two watches, albeit at opposite ends of the same spectrum. The warmth of colour in the Freak is also something I appreciate in the La Tradition.

Regards

Andrew

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Congrats Andrew for this review. [nt]
Jul 08 2008,22:13 PM

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A VERY well written essay!!!!
Jul 09 2008,12:17 PM

My congrats on the wonderful catch!!!!!!!!
While in Hong Kong, last week, I had the chance to have a very close look at this marvel, but for the moment, speaking always for the Tradition line, my heart was captured by the automatic model with retrograde seconds...
While  most do not, I adore the old style rotator, a la Breguet...
Of course I have to recover financially from the 5817 ( and decide that I can see another watch on my wrist - quite an infidelity ) and if until then the Tradition line has not another family member in this financial bracket ( 15000 to 30000 Euros), I will take the plunge for the automatic!!!
And Andrew I agree, that while unconventional in showing the movement through the front dial, the Tradition line is , maybe, what A.L. Breguet would design today, as a souscription watch!!!
Wear the watch in good health and good LUCK!!!  (Do not forget that Titanic was loaded with a lot of healthy people, so have the best of luck, my friend!!!)
Tassos

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A fun journey
Jul 09 2008,16:06 PM

Thanks Tassos,

 

I enjoyed coming along on your journey with the purchase of the 5817 Marine (and that lovely perpetual), so I am glad you enjoyed mine.

 

We don’t seem to have any Purists that post here on the automatic 7037, so I would be very happy if you added that watch to our family here. While my preference is for the open spaces of the 7027 manual wind watch, as you point out the automatic is true to A.-L. Breguet’s design. The case diameter is 38mm versus 37mm, and I have not compared them side by side, so that would be interesting.

 

I remember CL writing some time ago about the negative connotations, at least in Asia, of the downward pointing power reserve indicator on the F.P.Journe dead second tourbillon. I would have thought that the retrograde second hand may have appealed more because of its location. However, it is this retrograde seconds that I find least attractive. This way of time telling is not my favourite indication; I have no other retrograde watches so it is probably just my bias, but on the La Tradition it strikes me as a bit flimsy and toy-like. Others may have more comments.

 

You have probably noticed that the balance wheel is stopped when the crown is pulled for time setting on the La Tradition. This has little real value in the two-hand 7027, but may be useful in the 7037 or for other future complications.

 

I don’t think you should be concerned about being unfaithful to the 5817. You will love it even more when it is off your wrist occasionally!

 

Regards

 

Andrew

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Bravo Andrew !!....
Jul 09 2008,16:54 PM

Greatly enjoyed your carefully chosen and finely turned phrases Andrew, all of which conveyed the full gamut of your experience from trepidation through to exhilaration. Furthermore, those photos really are top notch - no more self-deprecation!

Delighted to see that you 'landed' a piece long on your radar - enjoy for many years to come.

 

Cheers,

pplater.

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Thankyou...
Jul 09 2008,17:45 PM

Hello my friend.

 

I appreciate your kind comments.

 

However, I think it is the watch itself, rather than my photographic skills that make the images look good!  Still, the La Tradition did inspire me to try a little harder and there are certainly plenty of different aspects to this watch to photograph.

 

Finally though it is the whole that is more than the sum of the parts and the La Tradition just brings it all together for me.

 

Regards

 

Andrew

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Thanks for sharing
Jul 09 2008,21:06 PM

your story. La Tradition is such a beautiful watch. IMHO, a must-have for Breguet fans. Though I still prefer the white gold version, the dark blue croc strap goes very well with the blued screws.

Regards,

Vince

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Hi Andrew....you said you would & you did...congratulations..
Jul 10 2008,04:06 AM

Hi Andrew....you said you would & you did...congratulations..and what you did not say was that you are quiet a photographer and writer.

It is good to see someone who is passionate about their desires...procrastonates...assess and does.

The accuracy assesment also looks excellent...My total congratulations to you on a watch that is beautiful and will possibly ho\ld a very unique standing in years to come.

Kindest regards,

Jack

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Family traditions?
Jul 10 2008,14:52 PM

Hi Jack,

 

It took a while, but yes, I did get the La Tradition. Now for that other promise I made to myself 4 years ago … the Journe Tourbillon.  I never break a commitment, so stay tuned!!  But please note that due to circumstances outside of my control (my sensible wife and my serious bank manager) there may be a short delay...

 

I have followed with interest your posts on the accuracy of the Marine 5817. It appears that the La Tradition shares those same family traits, which is very pleasing. You have a 5207 and 5707 as well, do they perform to the same level or have we been lucky?

 

Thanks again for your kind words

 

Andrew

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From Memory the 5207 runs out at .,......
Jul 10 2008,15:06 PM

Hi Andrew,

The 5207 runs out at about 3 seconds per day error, the 5707 at about 5 seconds per day, my Daytona was pretyy good at around 2 seconds per day and the other very accurate watch was the Brietling Seawolf  Avenger which showed around a second per day.

Kind Regards,

Jack

 

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A QUESTION
Aug 09 2008,02:35 AM

great watch .

truly great.

thinking about getting one formyself but confused between yellow and white gold. any suggestons guys??

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They are quite different watches...
Aug 09 2008,03:43 AM

Hi Ahd,

Thanks for asking. I note that you started a new thread above which is what I was going to suggest, so I will reply above.

Regards

Andrew

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