The tourbillon is a remarkable invention by Abraham-Louis Breguet from 1801, conceived to address the irregularities in watch movements due to Earth’s gravity. By positioning the escapement within a mobile carriage that completes a rotation every minute, Breguet brilliantly countered the gravitational influences on the accuracy of timekeeping, while also enhancing lubrication for the balance pivots. Even after more than two centuries, the tourbillon remains a revered horological mechanism.
Breguet’s Marine Tourbillon 5577 is a celebration of this historic invention. Nestled within its 42.5 mm platinum case is the self-winding Calibre 581, an impressively slender movement at just 3 mm, constructed from 330 components. This thin profile is achieved by incorporating a peripheral rotor. The balance operates at a frequency of 4 Hertz and boasts an outstanding power reserve of 80 hours. Modern advancements have been integrated into the calibre, such as a carriage and balance spring made of silicon, which is known for its durability and resistance to both wear and magnetic fields. The exquisite craftsmanship of the movement can be admired through the watch’s sapphire case-back, where the barrel drum displays a compass rose.
From an aesthetic standpoint, the Marine Tourbillon 5577 showcases a blue sunburst dial. The tourbillon, positioned at 5 o’clock, captivates the observer with its 60-second rotating cage. To emphasize this mechanism, the chapter ring is deliberately off-centered. Furthermore, the hour-markers and the gold Breguet hands are luminescent, ensuring visibility in various lighting conditions.