Legacy Revisited: Tradition Chronographe Indépendant 7077 Launched in Breguet Blue

The Breguet Tradition collection is a tribute to the brand's storied watchmaking history. It is, in fact, inspired by the subscription watches designed by Abraham-Louis Breguet in the late 18th century. One can find historical allusions on the exposed movement architecture, which openly displays the mechanical complexity. Furthermore, the chronograph mechanism is totally independent or autonomous in this sophisticated collection. First introduced in 2015 and considered a hidden gem in the brand's collection, Breguet Tradition now returns with a contemporary look and Breguet Blue for the dial ― to be precise, in the form of the Tradition Chronographe Indépendant 7077 variant. 

The Tradition Chronograph 7077 was formerly available in both white gold with classic silvered accents and pink gold. The newly launched timepiece joins the league of Tradition Retrograde Second (Ref. 7097BB/GY/9WU), Tradition Quantième Retrograde (Ref. 7597BB/GY/9WU), and Tradition Tourbillon Fusée-and-Chain (Ref. 7047PT/1Y/9ZU) in the Breguet Blue colour.

The 44 mm 18 ct white gold watch has a fluted caseband. Its crown is classically positioned at 3 o’clock. The screw-locked chronograph pushers are at 4 o’clock (to start the timing) and 8 o’clock (to stop and reset the chronograph function). The base of the movement, which is completely visible through the front sapphire crystal, retains the collection's distinctive matte grey appearance as well as the appealing architectural and historically significant stepped finger bridges.

Use of the reset feature flexes and arms the blade spring, preparing the chronograph for a new measurement. The titanium balance wheel has two stop systems. The first, controlled by a cam, releases the balance wheel at the chronograph's start and retains it at stop; the second halts the balance wheel when there is insufficient energy for the entire operation. As a result, the balancing wheel is always in the correct position, achieving the desired amplitude instantaneously. This revolutionary system has been patented.

At 12 o'clock, the hours and minutes are indicated by two rhodium-plated Breguet open-tipped hands on a Breguet Blue dial, sporting a Clous de Paris pattern and white Roman numerals. Then there are two overlapping arcs: 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’. This blue colour can also be found on the track.

The Breguet Tradition Chronographe Indépendant 7077 variant has two entirely separate gear trains within the manual-winding calibre. The first gear train is for hours and minutes, and is regulated by a balance wheel oscillating at a gentle frequency of 3Hz. The second gear train operates at a high frequency of 5Hz, enhancing stability and ensuring precise chronograph readings. With this frequency, the chronograph achieves the timing to the tenth of a second. 

A second gear train typically involves an additional barrel, which takes up more room, and requires the chronograph and timekeeping barrels to be wound. In the Tradition Chronographe Indépendant 7077, Breguet uses a single barrel with a spring that is ideal for the chronograph function. When the reset function is triggered, energy is given to the chronograph and stored in a flexed blade spring. This reserve lasts up to 20 minutes, making it suitable for short-term measurements. It also assures rapid chronograph start-up because the available energy is constantly at its highest. A non-concentric gear is combined with the blade spring to smooth the torque, resulting in continuous amplitude and chronograph functioning. Breguet patented this blade spring-gear mechanism.

Powering the watch is a manual winding Calibre 580DR. This single-barrel movement has dual independent Breguet balance wheels, one in Grade 5 titanium and the other in cupro-beryllium. The first gear train is regulated by a balance wheel oscillating at a gentle frequency of 3Hz, visible on the right side of the dial, offering a 55-hour power reserve. Turning the watch showcases the sapphire open caseback, where no regulating organs are visible. But wearers will find anthracite-coated bridges and mainplate bridges, and at the bottom the blade device that acts as an energy source for the chronograph. This model is finished on a Breguet Blue alligator leather strap with an 18 ct white gold triple-blade folding clasp.

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