What a Charmer!
Crafted in the manner of a mechanical bouquet, the Breguet Tradition Dame 7038 is a striking rendition of a scene in nature, endowed with the enduring values of the pioneering watchmaker and ingrained in 21st-century modernity
There aren’t many watchmakers today that can boast a stellar line-up of watches for both genders. While the wristwatch might have first made its appearance on the dainty wrist of a woman, these timekeeping instruments were, for a long time, the purview of men. After all, timepieces are often the only forms of accessories a man can enjoy. Nonetheless, there have been some watchmakers with enough foresight to cater to the fairer sex, and one of them is Breguet. Alongside its plethora of collections that appeal to masculine sensibilities, Breguet has also diligently offered its female fans an extensive range of timepieces, recognising that women want both aesthetics and mechanics. The Tradition Dame 7038 is a stellar demonstration of this winning combination of good looks with intelligent engineering. The Tradition debuted more than a decade ago as a tribute to the brand’s founder, Abraham-louis Breguet, who has been credited with the invention of watchmaking techniques that still remain widely used within horology today, 241 years after the foundation of his eponymous brand. Here, the Tradition Dame is crafted in the same tradition as its masculine siblings, with an openworked dial that lays bare its mechanical workings as the movement components are placed above the mainplate, thus doubling as a dial. Introduced earlier this year, the Tradition Dame benefits from the tremendous technical know-how acquired by the brand over the past two centuries. For instance, the brand’s signature pare-chute protection system, invented in 1790, shields the timepiece from any unexpected shocks and jolts, while a winding rotor, shaped like a flower and seen from the sapphire caseback, ensures that the watch continues ticking as long as it stays on the wrist. The usage of silicon within the engine protects the parts from friction and magnetism. Looks-wise, what a stunner it is. The likeness of a bloom has been engraved upon the central barrel, which acts as the main anchor for this visual composition. The workings of the movement make for an arresting display of kinetic art, as the wheels and gear train perform their dance on the bottom half of the dial. A range of different finishes and polishes enhance the artistic quality of the timepiece: a retrograde seconds counter has been engraved upon the frosted mainplate, while at 12 o’clock, a Tahitian mother-of-pearl dial has been engine-turned in the manner of traditional Breguet pocket watches, thus injecting a healthy dose of feminine charm and panache. A diamondlavished bezel, a movement jewel-studded crown and a striking alligator strap are the finishing touches of aesthetic brilliance that make the Breguet Tradition Dame a vision to behold. • Sincere Fine Watches: 01-12 Takashimaya S C and 01-352 Suntec City Mall • Sincere Haute Horlogerie: 02-17 The Shopping Gallery at The Hilton