There are only very few tonneau-shaped watches on the market that are actually popular with watch collectors, and the Breguet Héritage is one of them. Perhaps this has something to do with the fact that its tonneau- or barrel-shaped case is curved on not just one but two axes, thus ensuring a perfect fit to the wrist. While the majority of Breguet buyers idolize the Tradition and just as many desire the Classique, to simply pass over on the Héritage would be a grave mistake, for this elegant watch with a generous mien has much to offer.

In the Breguet Héritage Grande Date 5410, the watchmaking firm utilized the ample dial space judiciously, deploying no fewer than three different types of guilloché decoration. Since its inception, Breguet’s watches feature one guilloché pattern for each dial area with the intention of segmenting it for greater clarity. Such is the inimitable dedication to quality as defined by the master.

The watch’s small seconds sub-dial occupies its own zone at six o’clock and is decorated by a sunburst guilloché. Its blued steel hand contrasts elegantly against the silvered background, just like the larger blued steel Breguet-style hours and minutes hands do. Emanating from the central pinion is another style of guilloché to mark out the 12 hour segments. Decorated with alternating scalloped sunburst guilloché, it allows the grande date windows to overlap. Both the hours and minutes, as well as the seconds, occupy a circular recessed area set apart by a chapter ring with dotted minute markers from the tonneau-shaped upper area decorated with yet another guilloché pattern, and blue stylised Roman numerals. Here, a figurative moiré pattern adds just enough visual drama to end things on a high note.

Specs

• Dimensions: 45mm x 32mm
• Functions: Hours, minutes, small seconds, grande date
• Power Reserve: 65 hours
• Movement: Self-winding Calibre 516GG
• Material: White or rose gold
• Water Resistance: 30 meters
• Strap: Alligator leather with white or rose gold deployant buckle

This story was first published in World of Watches.