Breguet’s Experimentale 1 Signals a New Era of Swiss Innovation as Auctions Push Vintage Icons Higher

A Magnetic Shock to Traditional Watchmaking To celebrate its 250th anniversary, Breguet didn’t just release another commemorative limited edition. Instead, it created a research platform in disguise—the Experimentale 1, the first piece in a new, R&D-led line. GQ The headline is simple but radical: The Experimentale 1 uses magnets to regulate the movement without contact. In normal mechanical watches, friction is the enemy. The escapement components repeatedly strike and slide against each other, gradually wearing down surfaces and bleeding energy. Breguet’s new magnetic escapement tackles that by using magnetic forces to control the motion instead of direct contact. The result? Far less friction More consistent power delivery Improved long-term stability It’s housed in a 43.5 mm Marine-style case in a proprietary Breguet gold alloy, with a sapphire dial that lets you see the architecture of the movement. The layout nods to an 1820 Breguet regulator pocket watch, but the watch itself feels like it teleported in from the next century. This is the kind of thing that reminds the industry who invented the tourbillon in the first place.

Meanwhile in Geneva: The Past Is on Fire While Breguet is experimenting with magnetic fields, the Geneva fall auctions reminded everyone that the big money is still in the classics. Across the main houses—Phillips, Christie’s, Sotheby’s—vintage Patek Philippe and Rolex pieces once again dominated the leaderboards, with several records and near-records falling.

Highlights included A historically important Patek Philippe ref. 1518 and other mid-century references punching deep into seven-figure territory. A Rolex Daytona ref. 6263 “Oyster Sotto” selling for around CHF 1.39 million, close to its historical peak and a clear reminder that the right Daytona is in a market all of its own.