Breguet isn’t interested in letting us forget the brand’s celebration of its 250th anniversary, and the commemorative timepieces keep coming. The latest one is the Classique Tourbillon Sidéral 7255, which is limited to just 50 pieces.
Referred to as the ‘4th chapter’ in Breguet celebrations(how many chapters are we going to get?), it pays tribute to the tourbillon’s rich heritage and the vast cosmos from which its name (Sidéral) draws inspiration .
We’re a little late on reporting this, as there was some back and forth on the watches we should cover. Perhaps a story for another day, so I don’t end up in a rabbit hole. The watch was launched on June 26, 2025, a symbolic nod to the day Abraham-Louis Breguet secured the patent for his revolutionary tourbillon in 1801. That’s a pretty significant date for all of us who are still obsessed with the tourbillon.
At the heart of the new timepiece lies Breguet’s first-ever flying tourbillon, a variation that eliminates the upper bridge and supports the rotating cage from beneath, giving the mechanism a sensation of levitation.
While that sounds like something novel, it’s a familiar kind of tourbillon, but what’s interesting here (and a little surprising) is that Breguet hadn’t used one in any of the brand’s timepieces up until now. French mathematician, Blaise Pascal’s extension of what a tourbillon means has left the device associated with astronomy, and the watch seeks to accentuate this.
It doesn’t take a watch expert to notice that the dial has a celestial theme. The deep blue hue, with what appears to be stars in the distance, is reminiscent of the night sky filled with stars. The moniker “Sidéral” (Sidereal) reflects this theme. Rather than relying on solar time, sidereal time is based on the consistent positions of fixed stars, a more rigorous celestial measurement.
The dial is crafted from aventurine enamel, a material traditionally associated with starlit skies due to its glittering copper oxide content. Fired in multiple layers at over 800°C, each dial is unique, echoing the individuality of the 50 watches in the production run.
The movement behind this masterfully crafted timepiece is Breguet’s manually wound calibre 187M1. It features a 1-minute tourbillon, small seconds on the cage, and a 50-hour power reserve. The movement comprises 183 components and beats at 2.5 Hz. Notable parts include bridges in 18K Breguet gold (75% gold with silver, copper, and palladium enrichment) with Geneva stripes and the newly introduced “Quai de l’Horloge” guilloché decoration.
Not that you’d ever take a watch like this anywhere near water, but it’s worth noting that it has water resistance to a depth of 30 meters. That may come in handy if your friends decide to throw you overboard as a prank during a soirée on your yacht.
The 10.2 mm thick case, also in 18K Breguet gold, measures 38 mm in diameter. Its design incorporates traditional Breguet elements such as fluted caseband, welded lugs, and a double anti-reflective sapphire crystal on the front and back. Each piece is individually numbered and engraved from 1/50 to 50/50.
The hours and minutes are marked with Breguet Arabic numerals and signature hollowed-head gold hands. The words “Breguet” and “Tourbillon” in gold appliques feature prominently at 9 and 3 o’clock, while the navy-blue alligator strap and folding clasp complement the celestial theme of the dial.
As with many of Breguet’s creations, this is another chapter in the ongoing story of mechanical mastery that can be traced back to the creation of the tourbillon. Looking to add it to your collection? It’ll cost you $226,000.
