The Marine collection has been given a remarkably dynamic new boost with the addition of Reference 5557 to the Breguet catalogue. The design is more taut and modern, while reflecting the collection’s overall harmony, consistency and aesthetic inspiration. Technically, offering a dual time zone was an obvious choice given the identity of the collection as well as the history of the brand and that of Abraham-Louis Breguet in particular. Breguet’s history and prestige certainly increase its responsibility with regards to the choice of such a complication. It was driven by this curiosity that we scrupulously observed this 5557.
Exterior
At 44mm in diameter and 13.8mm thick, as well as endowed with certified water resistance to 10 bar, the Hora Mundi (tested in its white gold/rubber strap version) is a substantial watch that is nonetheless optimally ergonomic and comfortable – notably due to the strap integration typical of the collection's contemporary design. The elegant asymmetrical crown guard fulfils its role perfectly while offering absolute maneuverability of the screw-lock crown. A single corrector at 8 o’clock serves to set and activate the dual-time function. The emblematic fluted pattern on the caseband is protected by the bezel and the polished caseback.
The North Pole of the world map shown on the dial is cleverly centered on the date window. The meridians converge here, creating an unprecedented and subtle illusion of volume. The blue of the oceans strikes a perfect contrast and contributes to the watch’s readability. The generously sized Breguet hands and Roman numerals are adorned with luminescent material ensuring impeccable readability at night.
Movement
Caliber 77F1 driving this Reference 5557 is reasonably sized (perhaps too much so?) at 27mm in diameter and ensures a 55-hour power reserve. Regulated by a silicon escapement and balance-spring, it draws its energy from a splendidly decorated 18K gold oscillating weight. It would really deserve closer examination, but we have chosen here to focus on its horological complication.
The idea is to enable successively alternating displays of the two time zones chosen and set by pressing the single pusher at 8 o’clock. The intelligence of this development lies in the fact that all the information indicated changes according to the time zone shown: not only the hours hand and the name of the city corresponding to the time zone, but also the day/night indicator (disk located at 4 o’clock) and the date (12 o’clock). While this is doubtless not the biggest technical challenge in watchmaking history, its good sense, its smooth setting and user-friendliness, together with the clarity and relevance of the information displayed, contribute to a resolutely modern and innovative timepiece.
Tests
The design engineers behind this caliber also deserve credit for the fact that all the functions are adjustable via the crown and the 8 o’clock pusher, with no other correctors or pushers complicating setting or compromising the case’s water resistance. Adjusting the two time zones is a simple, intuitive and secure process. Thanks to the technical choices that have been made, the legibility of this model is undoubtedly the best one could achieve with a multi-zone watch. While we did not go into details on base Caliber 77F1, we nonetheless performed the usual measurements and were thrilled by its timekeeping precision. The amplitudes are optimal with a remarkably low loss in the vertical positions. The rates are ideally grouped and remain very stable in all the positions throughout the power reserve. All in all, it delivered faultless performance with regards to all observed and measured aspects.
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