Breguet Experimentale 1: A 10Hz tourbillon with magnetic escapement signalling the future of high-precision watchmaking

To mark 250 years of watchmaking, Breguet has unveiled the Experimentale 1, a highly technical timepiece that inaugurates a new collection dedicated to research and development. 

Named “Experimentale”, the line is designed to present the manufacture’s most advanced technical ideas before they gradually filter into its main collections. The Experimentale 1, therefore, functions as both a demonstrator watch and a statement about the direction of Breguet’s future watchmaking.

This spirit of experimentation traces directly back to Abraham-Louis Breguet, whose inventions — from the tourbillon to the Breguet balance spring — laid much of the foundation for modern horology.

The Experimentale 1 builds on that legacy, bringing together materials science, magnetism, and vibratory mechanics as part of a broader push towards greater precision.

The watch centres on one of the most ambitious regulating systems the brand has produced: a 10Hz tourbillon combined with a constant-force magnetic escapement. 

Operating at 72,000 vibrations per hour, the oscillator runs four times faster than many traditional tourbillons, which typically operate around 2.5Hz. This high frequency allows the balance to return to its optimal amplitude more quickly after shocks or disturbances, improving overall stability and timekeeping precision.

Precision is further enhanced by the constant-force magnetic escapement. Using carefully controlled magnetic interactions between two escape wheels and a pallet lever fitted with magnetic pallets, the system delivers a stable impulse to the balance throughout the power reserve. 

It also separates the impulse transmitted to the balance from the rotation of the gear train and the tourbillon cage, reducing the influence of inertia and ensuring more consistent energy delivery.

The result is a movement certified by the Breguet hallmark in the “Scientific” category, guaranteeing accuracy of ±1 second per day — an exceptional result for a mechanical wristwatch with such a complex regulating system. 

The hand-wound calibre 7250 also features twin barrels arranged in series, delivering a 72-hour power reserve while optimising energy management within the movement architecture.

Visually, the Experimentale 1 takes an equally forward-looking approach. The watch is housed in a 43.5mm Breguet gold case inspired by the Marine collection, with a sapphire dial revealing the movement in full view. 

The dial’s regulator-style display places the hours at 6 o’clock, offset minutes on the main dial, and seconds on the tourbillon at 12 o’clock, forming a layout chosen for both legibility and chronometric performance.

By combining magnetism, high-frequency oscillation, and tourbillon technology in a single architecture, the Experimentale 1 encapsulates Breguet’s long-standing pursuit of precision — a philosophy first defined by manufacture founder Abraham-Louis Breguet, and one that continues to shape the brand’s future today.