Breguet’s new thin tourbillon features

A new front has opened at the haute horlogerie end of the ultra-thin wars, this one to determine who can produce the slimmest tourbillon. Breguet’s new thin tourbillon, unveiled at Baselworld but not due out until next year, is the Classic Tourbillon Extra-Thin 5377BR, which comes in at a svelte 7 mm thick (and 42 mm in diameter).

The tourbillon carriage and balance wheel are titanium and the balance spring is silicon. The escapement (escape wheel and pallet lever) is silicon and anti-magnetic steel. The movement, protected by two patents, runs at 28,800 vph, and a single “high energy” barrel provides 90 hours of autonomy. To keep the automatic winding movement thin, the bidirectional platinum winding rotor has been placed at the edge of the movement.

The watch bears several of the brand’s aesthetic hallmarks. The case band is fluted, while the dial is decorated with four engine-turned patterns. Blued Breguet hands pass above Roman numerals. The power-reserve indicator hand is mounted at the edge of the dial between 8 and 9 o’clock.