Mostly known for its Classique watches and its range of pilot’s chronographs, Breguet has a long tradition of nautical-inspired models too. The Marine collection represents the link to a lesser-known aspect of Abraham-Louis Breguet’s history, when he was the “Horloger de la Marine”, the official supplier of chronometers to France’s Navy. Now in its third generation, the Marine is the sportiest and boldest collection of the watchmaker, yet it remains refined, as a Breguet should be. Today, we take a closer look at a model with a rare and fascinating complication, a mechanical alarm. Here’s our video review of the Breguet Marine Alarme Musicale 5547.
Abraham-Louis Breguet is known as one of the most influential watchmakers of all times. He revolutionised horology with manifold innovations but also created the notion of “brand” in watchmaking. What fewer know is that during the French Restauration, following the fall of Napoleon, Breguet was appointed as the official watchmaker of the French Royal Navy in 1815 by Louis XVIII, thus becoming the sole supplier of marine chronometers for France’s navigation at sea. Even today, this heritage is still strong for the brand, which has just become patron of the French National Navy Museum in Paris. The Marine collection, first introduced during the 1990s, pays tribute to this nautical spirit. In 2018, Breguet presented the third generation of Marine watches, endowing it with a dynamic and contemporary spirit. In addition to a time-and-date model and a chronograph, the collection comprises a very attractive model, equipped with a rare but charming complication, a mechanical alarm.
This watch, the Breguet Marine Alarme Musicale 5547, is the topic of our video review – we chose the white gold edition, with its handsome blue guilloché dial (probably the most attractive model in the range). The case has been radically modernised in this third generation, showing more angular shapes and a lug module for dynamic lines. Still, it is a Breguet and the decoration/finishing is top-notch. Classique elements have been kept, such as the wave-shaped crown guard or the fluted caseband – with a more pronounced pattern than a Classique model. The dial, made of solid gold with a hand-guilloché pattern, also plays on the nautical theme, with its wave pattern and several references to nautical flags – on the power reserve or the seconds hand counterweight. The watch is equipped with a dual time function and a date… but mostly, a chiming complication.
What matters most in this Breguet Marine 5547 is its alarm function, executed by the calibre 519/F1 – a joint development by Lemania and Frédéric Piguet. This automatic movement features two barrels, both wound simultaneously via the crown or the unidirectional automatic mechanism. The first barrel powers the time indication while the second powers the alarm mechanism. This function is operated by the second crown, positioned at 4 o’clock (which also sets the second time zone) and a push-button at 7 o’clock, which activates or deactivates the alarm. A small bell appears in the 12 o’clock window when it is activated.
And if you want to hear how this alarm sounds, check out the video review above. It is a pretty impressive and mechanically fascinating function. More details on this Breguet Marine Alarme Musicale 5547 and the rest of the Marine collection at www.breguet.com.
