Introducing: The New Breguet Tradition Seconde Rétrograde 7035
Just under a month ago, Breguet unveiled its stunning new Souscription 2025 watch, a remarkable addition to the collection that commemorates the company’s 250th anniversary. Now, we’re excited to introduce the second piece in what seems to be an impressive lineup of watches to expect in 2025. Meet the newest Breguet Tradition Seconde Rétrograde 7035.
Breguet Tradition Seconde Rétrograde 7035
As a passionate enthusiast and proud owner of the Breguet Tradition 7027, I was thrilled to discover that the new Tradition Seconde Rétrograde 7035 has embraced a more understated size. Whereas its most recent predecessors measured at least 40mm across, this new reference has a 38mm diameter.
Breguet inventions
Fratello has covered the story of the Tradition and the Breguet Souscription watches multiple times (here’s a nice write-up from Lex on the brand). The Tradition debuted in 2005, inspired by the Souscription watches from 1796. These simple watches attracted a new customer base for Abraham-Louis Breguet during that time. As you can see, the architecture of the movement, which exposes the various components to its wearer, has remained in the Tradition watches that have been in the catalog since 2005.
Perpétuelle and the use of platinum
Breguet’s CEO, Gregory Kissling, ensured the creation of something with elements of historical significance. For starters, this self-winding watch features a rotor made of platinum. While that’s not especially new today, did you know that Breguet used platinum for his “perpétuelle” automatic watches as far back as 1780? In fact, one of the most famous pocket watches Breguet ever created, the “Marie-Antoinette,” featured a platinum oscillating weight. The Tradition’s platinum rotor has a vertically satin-brushed finish, contrasting with the shot-blasted mainplate gilded in 18K gold.
Quai de l‘Horloge motif
Another new element is the hand-guilloché pattern on the 18K gold dial. This motif, named Quai de l‘Horloge, is finished with translucent blue grand feu enamel. It should remind you of the Seine, the river that flows around the Île de la Cité, where A.L. Breguet’s workshop once stood. Breguet began using guilloché dials for the first time in 1786. All the elements featured in the Tradition, including the famous “pare-chute” shock-protection system (1790) and the previously mentioned use of platinum for the oscillating weight, trace back to those first 25 years of Breguet’s watchmaking.
Caliber 505SR
The self-winding movement of the Breguet Tradition Seconde Rétrograde ref. 7035 is caliber 505SR. It ticks at a 3Hz (21,600vph) frequency and has a power reserve of 50 hours. The 6.31mm-thick movement consists of 245 parts, 38 of which are jewels and 24 are (blued) steel screws. Breguet uses a blue Nivachron balance spring. As mentioned above, the movement decoration consists of shot-blasted and satin finishes, all gilded in 18K Breguet gold except for the crescent-shaped rotor in 950 platinum.
Applying the hand-guilloché pattern to the dial
A touch of blue
On the hand-guilloché dial, you will find the Breguet Arabic numerals and a fleur-de-lys minute track. Then, there are the typical open-tip Breguet hands in 18K gold, perfectly matching the color of the case and movement. Next to the blue hand-guilloché dial are the retrograde seconds, indicated with a blued hand. The blue dial, blue seconds hand, and all the blue screws provide a wonderful contrast to the gold hue of the movement and case.
Breguet gold
Lastly, the new Tradition 7035’s case material, like that of the Souscription 2025, is Breguet gold. This new-for-2025 18K gold alloy combines gold (75%), copper, and palladium, giving it a warm (a little bit more rose than yellow gold) hue. The Breguet Tradition Seconde Rétrograde uses 52 grams of gold and 2.2 grams of platinum.
Availability and pricing
Breguet is limiting the production of the Tradition Seconde Rétrograde ref. 7035BH/H2/9V6 to 250 pieces worldwide. Each individually numbered watch will come in a special red leather box. The watch will also come fitted with a blue alligator strap with large scales on the outside, smaller scales on the lining, and, of course, an 18K gold buckle.
The price of the new Breguet Tradition Seconde Rétrograde 7035 is €50,800 / CHF 43,000, including taxes.
First impression of the Tradition Seconde Rétrograde 7035
Although I haven’t seen the watch in real life yet, I think this is already one of my favorite Tradition iterations. The beautiful translucent blue grand feu enamel and hand-guilloché dial and the platinum oscillating weight are great design cues for this new Tradition. I think Breguet made the right call to downsize the watch, especially considering the relatively long lugs. At the same time, I am also happy that Breguet kept the coin-edge motif for the Tradition case.
I am delighted to see Breguet back on the right track with the latest two introductions and can’t wait to see what the brand has in store for us in 2025. Breguet seems to be more talked about and discussed among watch enthusiasts than in previous years, which is a good sign. It’s probably also sparking the interest in vintage and pre-owned Breguet watches, which I consider heavily underrated today.
What do you think of the new Tradition Seconde Rétrograde 7035? Does it also give you hope for the brand’s near future? Let me know in the comments.
