BREGUET IS BEST known for its ingenuity, inventiveness and the quality of its work, and its new products launched in Basel this month were no exception. For Breguet, 2006 is certainly a year of creativity and innovation.
By using silicon instead of metal to make various critical parts of the movement, Montres Breguet has taken a big step forward in horological technology. One of the biggest talking points among those interested in technical aspects of watchmaking is the use of silicium, or silicon.
Its introduction heralds a major breakthrough in watchmaking technology because it has several very special properties that the watch industry has sought for many years. More than 200 years ago, Abraham-Louis Breguet was heard to say: 'Give me a perfect oil and I'll give you a perfect movement.' Silicon requires no lubricant and it is lighter and harder than steel. It is impervious to magnetic attraction and influence and is highly resistant to corrosion and wear. The production process used for silicon parts offers designers the opportunity to create new and complex shapes.
Components made from silicon can be produced with far greater precision than metal parts and when completed they require no finishing or polishing: they already have a perfect finish.
The use of this new material offers the watch industry exciting prospects. Breguet is one of an extremely small and select group of companies that have invested in the expensive research necessary to develop this new technology. This is in keeping with the pioneering role Breguet has always adopted in the development of horological technology. The introduction of silicon components reflects Breguet's belief that horological inventions and revolutions are still possible today.
Two watch movements, both manufactured by Breguet, now include silicon parts. The all-new calibre 777Q features a silicon escape wheel and lever, while calibre 591A has been fitted this year with a 'full assortment' in silicon - the escape wheel, lever and balance spring, which is believed to be an industry first.
The new timepieces launched by Breguet at the BaselWorld show in Switzerland were a blend of technical sophistication, pioneering materials, impeccable finishing and inspired design.