The Chinese New Year, celebrated on the second new moon after the winter solstice, falls on January 29, 2025, marking the Year of the Snake. To honor this occasion, Breguet unveils the Classique 7145, a limited edition of just eight pieces. Showcasing the brand’s mastery of traditional craftsmanship, this 40mm rose gold timepiece combines guilloché, engraving, and hand-painting to stunning effect.
The centerpiece of the watch is a hand-engraved bas-relief snake on a gold dial, created using meticulous chiseling and burin techniques under a microscope. Guilloché patterns, a hallmark introduced by Abraham-Louis Breguet in 1786, add depth to the design, highlighting the snake’s scales and surrounding foliage. Enhanced by a black galvanic treatment, the leaves are hand-painted in varying tones of green, amplifying the artistic appeal.
Signature Breguet elements, such as the open-tipped hour and minute hands and discreet rose gold hour markers, ensure the artwork takes center stage. The 40mm case, just 6.5mm thick, features classic straight lugs with hand-soldered screw pins and a fluted caseband, epitomizing Breguet’s timeless elegance.
The caseback reveals the ultra-thin calibre 502.3, a 2.4mm-thick automatic movement designed in the 1960s. Equipped with a flat silicon balance spring for magnetic resistance, the movement operates at 3Hz and offers a 45-hour power reserve. Its 22k gold rotor, adorned with a guilloché barleycorn pattern, adds a luxurious touch.
Paired with a green alligator strap and rose gold pin buckle, the Breguet Classique 7145 seamlessly blends tradition, artistry, and horological excellence—a fitting tribute to the Year of the Snake.