Breguet Classique Tourbillon Quantième Perpétuel Skeleton reference 3795: Three-dimensional beauty

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Breguet Classique Tourbillon Quantième Perpétuel Skeleton reference 3795 in pink gold (3797BR/1E/9WU). Powered by the Calibre 588QP2 manual-winding movement with 50 hours of power reserve. Indicative pricing: SGD345,700 (Singapore dollars) / MYR773,500 (Malaysian Ringgit). The information provided on the dial of this perpetual calendar watch tells us that it is a non leap-year (year 2) and the time is 9.44 on 1 April which is a Tuesday. Photo: © TANG Portfolio. Elfa / Timmy. BaselWorld 2014

Breguet Classique Tourbillon Quantième Perpétuel Skeleton reference 3795 in pink gold (3797BR/1E/9WU). Powered by the Calibre 588QP2 manual-winding movement with 50 hours of power reserve. Indicative pricing: SGD345,700 (Singapore dollars) / MYR773,500 (Malaysian Ringgit). The information provided on the dial of this perpetual calendar watch tells us that it is a non leap-year (year 2) and the time is 9.44 on 1 April which is a Tuesday. Photo: © TANG Portfolio. Elfa / Timmy. BaselWorld 2014

The Classique Tourbillon Quantième Perpétuel Skeleton reference 3795 is the skeletonised version of its sibling, the Breguet reference 3797.

Similar to the reference 3797, the Calibre 588QP2 manual-winding movement is used in the reference 3795. All functions and displays are therefore the same, including the snail cam that drives the instantaneous day change.

What is vastly different though, is the beauty factor. The openworked process has led to a more three-dimensional perpetual calendar watch.

In high horology, a skeletonised movement means that it has undergone the openworking process whereby as much material is removed as possible which results in thin bridges for example. Even the bridges are engraved and decorated. Try spotting the engraved text and numerals: “Breguet No. 7988”. Photo: © TANG Portfolio. Elfa / Timmy. BaselWorld 2014

In high horology, a skeletonised movement means that it has undergone the openworking process whereby as much material is removed as possible which results in thin bridges for example. Even the bridges are engraved and decorated. Try spotting the engraved text and numerals: “Breguet No. 7988”. Photo: © TANG Portfolio. Elfa / Timmy. BaselWorld 2014

One feature we found interesting is the leap year indication whereby a wheel with what the brand describes as a “blue sun” is used to indicate the years.

The leap year indication and the month display is at the 3 o’clock position. It is obvious that the blued steel hand is pointing to April but what about the leap year? The leap year is represented by the letter “B” which most likely stands for Breguet. What the folks at Breguet have done is to use a revolving wheel, which by the way, makes one rotation every four years, with a blue sun (partially hidden by the sapphire chapter ring disc and above the numeral “2”) to indicate the years. In the example shown above, it is year “2”, a non leap year. Photo: © TANG Portfolio

The leap year indication and the month display is at the 3 o’clock position. It is obvious that the blued steel hand is pointing to April but what about the leap year? The leap year is represented by the letter “B” which most likely stands for Breguet. What the folks at Breguet have done is to use a revolving wheel, which by the way, makes one rotation every four years, with a blue sun (partially hidden by the sapphire chapter ring disc and above the numeral “2”) to indicate the years. In the example shown above, it is year “2”, a non leap year. Photo: © TANG Portfolio

We especially enjoyed the engraving and decorative work on the movement bridges as viewed from the rear of the reference 3795. This is what we define as a three-dimensional beauty.

The view from the rear of the skeletonised Breguet reference 3795. Note the engravings and decorative style on the bridges. Photo: © TANG Portfolio. Elfa / Timmy. BaselWorld 2014

The view from the rear of the skeletonised Breguet reference 3795. Note the engravings and decorative style on the bridges. Photo: © TANG Portfolio. Elfa / Timmy. BaselWorld 2014

Patek Philippe Grandmaster Chime Ref. 5175: Triple Strike

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Commemorating the brand’s 175th anniversary of its founding is the Patek Philippe Grandmaster Chime Ref. 5175. It features 20 complications including the Grande Sonnerie, Petite Sonnerie, minute repeater, alarm and date strike, among other things. Unveiled in October 2014, this marvel is powered by a new Calibre 300 GS AL 36-750 QIS FUS IRM manual-winding movement with the minimum power reserve of 72 hours. The Ref. 5175 is housed in an 18K rose gold case 47.4mm in diameter and 16.1mm thick. Limited to 7 pieces, the Patek Philippe Ref. 5175 is priced at CHF2.5 million. Photo: © TANG Portfolio. Geneva 2014

Commemorating the brand’s 175th anniversary of its founding is the Patek Philippe Grandmaster Chime Ref. 5175. It features 20 complications including the Grande Sonnerie, Petite Sonnerie, minute repeater, alarm and date strike, among other things. Unveiled in October 2014, this marvel is powered by a new Calibre 300 GS AL 36-750 QIS FUS IRM manual-winding movement with the minimum power reserve of 72 hours. The Ref. 5175 is housed in an 18K rose gold case 47.4mm in diameter and 16.1mm thick. Limited to 7 pieces, the Patek Philippe Ref. 5175 is priced at CHF2.5 million. Photo: © TANG Portfolio. Geneva 2014

The best-kept secret in the watchmaking industry has finally been unveiled. At Patek Philippe’s Plan-les-Ouates manufacturing facility which has been amazingly transformed for the 175th anniversary celebrations of its founding (1839 to 2014), the brand finally showcased its Grandmaster Chime Ref. 5175 – the main highlight among its commemorative anniversary timepieces.

Patek Philippe’s Grandmaster Chime Ref. 5175 is the result of seven years of research and development time. The Ref. 5175 features 20 complications including two world firsts in watchmaking: the first alarm function that strikes the time and secondly, the first date strike (activated on demand).

What’s more, the brand lays its claim to being the “only watch in the world to possess three distinct striking mechanisms: the Grande and Petite Sonnerie and minute repeater, the alarm and the date strike.”

Before attempting the challenge of identifying the 20 complications on the dial featuring the guilloched sunburst, do note that this Patek Philippe Ref. 5175 has two dials. In other words, it is a double-faced timepiece.

The other face of Patek Philippe’s Grandmaster Chime Ref. 5175 features the 24-hour display and the instantaneous perpetual calendar functions. One highlight is the four-digit year display seen in the aperture at the centre of the dial. Corrections can be made in either direction with a patented mechanism created by the brand. Photo: © TANG Portfolio. Geneva 2014

The other face of Patek Philippe’s Grandmaster Chime Ref. 5175 features the 24-hour display and the instantaneous perpetual calendar functions. One highlight is the four-digit year display seen in the aperture at the centre of the dial. Corrections can be made in either direction with a patented mechanism created by the brand. Photo: © TANG Portfolio. Geneva 2014

A patented reversing mechanism was created to allow the case to be rotated. Once reversed, the information on the second dial feature the 24-hour indication and the instantaneous perpetual calendar indications.

At the aperture in the centre of the dial is the four-digit year display.

Patek Philippe’s Grandmaster Chime Ref. 5175 is powered by the Calibre 300 GS AL 36-750 QIS FUS IRM manual-winding movement that is housed in an 18K rose gold case that is 47.4mm in diameter and 16.1mm thick.

This 18K rose gold case, its lugs and foldover-clasp are decorated with hand-engravings of laurel leaves.

Limited to seven pieces, with one piece reserved for the Patek Philippe Museum.

Patek Philippe’s Grandmaster Chime Ref. 5175 is priced at CHF2.5 million.

For those who wish to know what’s next, do note that this is a question Patek Philippe President Thierry Stern has pre-empted. “We have already started on our 200th anniversary watch,” he discloses at last night’s launch in the Patek Philippe Manufacture.