Abraham-Louis Breguet invented the gong spring in 1783, the same year he designed the famous “Breguet hands”.
Around 1680, the leading horologists produced the first repeating watches. Since then, a number of watchmakers have contributed to the development of the repeater, improving its accuracy from the nearest quarter-hour to the nearest minute.
A.-L. Breguet was responsible for a decisive invention in the development of the repeater. Replacing the bells of the early repeaters with strip-steel gongs curved around the movement, he greatly reduced the size of the repeating watch while retaining a good quality of sound.
A.-L. Breguet’s gongs are still essential to repeaters, while metallurgical advances have considerably improved their sound. Building a minute repeater is the task of an experienced watchmaker. Along with a musical ear, it demands great manual dexterity. The slightest mistake can ruin hours of work.
The Classique « Grande Complication » Minute Repeater
The Classique « Grande Complication » Minute Repeater wristwatch comes in a 42mm 18-carat white gold case. Its hand-wound movement with minute repeater is entirely engraved by hand. Its splendid finishes can be admired through the sapphire-crystal caseback. The dial in silvered 18-carat gold has been hand-engraved on a rose engine. It bears the 24-hour indication at 3 o'clock and the running seconds at 9 o'clock.
The watch is also available in pink gold.
