There are 'iced out' timepieces and then there's the Breguet Classique Double Tourbillon High Jewelry ref. 5349PT. While we are not fans of 'iced out' watches or watches with diamond accents here at WCL, we do have to recognize that this Breguet Double Tourbillon is a masterpiece of horology and high jewellery. Fitted with a massive 50 mm case and a total of 417 diamonds throughout its dial and case, this Grande Complication is simply as special as it gets, thanks to its twin rotating tourbillons.
Things You Need to Know
Featuring a massive case in .950 platinum, the total weight of this oversized timepiece is 309 grams —almost three quarters of a pound. Fitted with a dial with silvered gold chapter ring and center plate paved with 310 diamonds totaling approximately 1.62 carats, the diamond setting work is simply a work of art and a meticulous task that took days to accomplish.
With the double tourbillons taking the center stage as they pretty much shadow the diamond setting work on the dial, these two independent tourbillons —one located at 1 o'clock and the other at 7 o'clock— affixed by a bridge to the center plate, complete a full rotation every 12 hours. Blued Breguet hands and a Roman numerals chapter ring complete this masterpiece from Breguet, the inventor of the tourbillon.
And just as if the diamond set dial wasn't impressive enough with its massive amount of 'bling', the bezel, lugs and caseband are pavéd with 107 baguette-cut diamonds that total an impressive 30.30 carats. With a robust case measuring 50 mm in diameter and a thickness of almost 19 mm —to put things in perspective the thickness on a Royal Oak Offshore Chronograph is around 15 mm—, you need to be the size of Floyd Mayweather or Mike Tyson to be able to wear this watch comfortably.
The Movement
Turning the watch around reveals the true mastery of Breguet with an exquisitely finished movement with celestial and planetary hand decorations that make the movement mainplate look like a meteorite rain is taking over the milky way. The beating heart inside the Breguet Classique Double Tourbillon High Jewelry ref. 5349PT/11/9ZU/DD0D is the manual wound calibre 588 composed of 676 parts, 81 jewels and twin tourbillons. This movement beats at a frequency of 18,000 vph to provide a power reserve of 50 hours.
On the Wrist & Pricing
On the wrist, the Breguet Classique Double Tourbillon High Jewelry ref. 5349PT wears extremely big and more like a 52 mm watch. Because of its size and 'bling' overload, this is a watch that is definitely not made for everyone and one that is hard to wear without looking like you came out of an episode of 'Narcos' or trying to look like Flavor Flav.
While we appreciate the horological prowess of Breguet and the amount of work that went into this Grand Complication, we just can't get pass the diamond overload on this timepiece. Thankfully, if you'd like to get a Breguet Double Tourbillon, this watch is also available under ref. 5347 in a wide variety of metals and dial options with no diamonds at all.
Sticker Price $802,000 USD —at time of review; however pricing changes on a daily basis per the Rapaport Diamond Report Guide. For more info on Breguet click here.
