Built as a rolling laboratory on the wrist, the Expérimentale 1 pushes mechanical precision into new territory. It’s a fitting statement piece to mark Breguet’s 250-year legacy of innovation.
With 2025 just a few short days away from closing out another fantastic year for watch brands, it has been a particularly immense year for one of the oldest watchmakers in the industry. Breguet capped off its 250th anniversary celebrations in emphatic fashion, saving the best for last. The first chapter in the brand’s new exploratory Research & Development line, the Expérimentale 1, features an innovative design to say the least.
Over the past 250 years, innovation has been a core concept behind numerous Breguet inventions. Starting with Abraham-Louis Breguet himself, who was responsible for creating several watchmaking innovations from 1775 onwards. From the tourbillon, the perpétuelle watch, the natural escapement, the constant-force escapement, and the “observation” seconds counter, which led to the creation of the chronograph. to the shock absorber, the Breguet balance spring with its terminal curve, the gong spring (for chiming watches), and the first wristwatch, it’s safe to say that Breguet has played a major role in shaping the world of horology as we know it today.
Now, Breguet is returning to its roots, creating a new Research & Development division within the manufacture to develop experimental pieces such as this, where the brand can once again push the boundaries of watchmaking. These timepieces coming out of this new R&D department are intended to showcase the latest innovations from Breguet’s research division, harking back to the inventive spirit of founder Abraham-Louis Breguet.
The Expérimentale 1 kicks off the show with a watch that features a few world firsts. As the brand states, they have fulfilled two objectives with this timepiece: “The first, fundamental goal underpinning all technical endeavours is the quest for precision. The second is to build a bridge between legacy and the future. This approach is being rolled out as part of the House’s 250th anniversary celebrations. Highlighting the historical significance of the Expérimentale1 seemed an obvious choice”.
Case Design
This new Expérimentale 1 is housed in a 43.5mm × 13.3mm case crafted from Breguet’s signature 18k Breguet gold, a proprietary alloy introduced this year. The case design draws inspiration from the brand’s Marine collection, most notably through the double-stepped fluted caseband and the six close-set lugs. Two of these lugs are dedicated to the interchangeable strap mechanism, while the remaining four are faceted and finished with alternating sand-blasted blue,d and satin-brushed surfaces. The result is a case design that features a mixture of vintage Breguet cues with a distinctly modern, technical aesthetic, perfectly in line with the experimental nature of the timepiece.
Dial Design
The dial design of the Expérimentale 1 takes things a step further. From the outside, it looks complicated; however, every component has a role and has been inspired by past Breguet creations. The timepiece takes a large chunk of design inspiration from Breguet’s pocket watch No. 3448, such as the regulator-style display and the symmetrical movement while taking them to a new level by merging front and back. The various components of the movement are in full view from the dial, showcasing the beauty of this technical masterpiece.
This regulator style display shows the hours at 6 o’clock on a skeletonised subdial, the minutes in a larger subdial sitting just about the hour counter, and lastly the seconds is displayed at 12 o’clock through the tourbillon. The dial also showcases a patented twin-barrel system, like the Breguet No. 3448 pocket watch, but this time each barrel features a double spring, which is separated by a sapphire spacer. The balance wheels can be seen on either side of the hour sub-dial at 4 and 8 o’clock.
Movement
At the heart of the Expérimentale 1 is a new calibre 7250 that introduces a world-first magnetic constant-force escapement, which replaces traditional mechanical contact with precisely controlled magnetic interaction. This patented system delivers a stable and consistent impulse to the balance wheels, dramatically reducing friction, wear, and energy loss, which has been one of the long-standing limitations of high-frequency mechanical movements. The escapement housed in the tourbillon operates at once per minute, which also doubles as a seconds counter.
Speaking of the tourbillon, Breguet’s re-invention of this complication further elevates it into another technical hierarchy. The tourbillon operates at a frequency of 10Hz (72,000 VpH!), which is far beyond any conventional tourbillon, ultimately enhancing the rate stability and, more importantly, the precision of the watch. Breguet states, “The Expérimentale 1 wristwatch is certified by the Breguet hallmark in the ‘Scientific’ category, meaning it has a guaranteed accuracy of +/- 1 second over a 24-hour period.”
Even with this extremely high-frequency movement, Breguet has managed to keep the 7250 Calibre with consistent amplitude thanks to its magnetic constant-force architecture, a feat that is protected by multiple patents. More than a display of complexity, the Expérimentale 1’s 7250 movement represents a modern interpretation of Abraham-Louis Breguet’s original philosophy: advancing precision through innovation and experimentation.
Initial Thoughts
Breguet has always held a special place for me when it comes to horology, not only for the multiple innovations that have shaped watchmaking as it is today, but also for the incredible timepieces that leave a lasting visual impact, from the vintage-inspired designs to the highly technical movements displayed through the dial.
Launched as the final piece of the puzzle for the brand’s 250th anniversary celebrations, the introduction of the Expérimentale 1 is certainly a milestone moment for Breguet, marking the first chapter in the brand’s new Research & Development division. I personally love the fact that it goes back to Breguet’s historic roots, where Abraham-Louis Breguet first invented the tourbillon complication. Now, alongside the patented magnetic constant-force escapement, Breguet has introduced an incredible 10Hz tourbillon, pushing mechanical precision into genuinely new territory.
If this is a sign of what’s to come over the next few years, sign me up without hesitation. I can already imagine Breguet trickling some of this technology down into the brand’s existing collections, after all, that’s exactly what innovation and experimental design are for, right? One thing is for certain, though, this feels like the start of a very exciting new chapter, with the future of Breguet’s watchmaking looking incredibly promising.
Reference: Breguet Expérimentale 1E001BH/S9/5ZV
Specification:
- Dimensions: 43.5mm x 13.3mm thick
- Case Material: 18k Breguet Gold with polished and brushed surfaces. Double-stepped fluted caseband.
- Dial: Regulator-type display. G I old applied chapter ring and seconds ring enhanced with Super-LumiNova®. Hour display at 6 o’clock, minutes in centre sub-dial, and seconds display in a 10Hz tourbillon complication.
- Crystal: Sapphire crystal with glare-proofing on both sides.
- Water resistance: 100 meters
- Movement: In-house Calibre 7250, operating at 10Hz (72,000 VpH) with 72-hour power reserve.
- Strap: Blue rubber with tool-free interchangeabilityInterchangeable 18K Breguet gold pin buckle.