Tradition 7057

The Tradition 7057 puts the fusée-and-chain transmission on the dial side, so you watch constant torque being maintained in real time. Breguet revived this 18th-century regulating device not as a heritage gesture but as a genuine engineering choice, and the 7057 in white gold is the clearest expression of that intent. At 40.8mm it wears larger than it looks on paper because most of the dial is movement.

What it is

Breguet introduced the Tradition line in 2005 as a deliberate inversion of conventional watchmaking: rather than hiding the movement behind a dial, the caliber is mounted on the front plate and displayed openly. The 7057 variant added the fusée-and-chain complication, which Abraham-Louis Breguet himself used to counter the uneven torque output of a mainspring as it winds down. Manufacture Breguet revived the technique in modern production as a credible mechanical argument, not decoration.

The white gold 7057BB/G9/9W6 has been in continuous production since 2012, which is a longer run than most complicated pieces at this price level, and it reflects genuine collector demand rather than a limited-edition marketing cycle.

Buying notes

The fusée-and-chain is the single most fragile element in this watch. The chain is made of roughly 550 individual parts and requires a specialist trained specifically on this complication for any service touching the remontoir side. Generic independent watchmakers should not attempt it.

The skeletonized architecture also means the movement accumulates dust and debris faster than a closed-caliber watch, so service intervals should be treated as a ceiling, not a suggestion. The white gold case shows contact marks around the crown and lugs more readily than a steel or yellow gold piece, and Breguet polishing is expensive. Finally, the 569 manual-wind has no power reserve indicator, so you will occasionally let it run down without realizing it, which on a fusée movement is a poor habit.

Market read

New retail on the 7057BB/G9/9W6 runs above $40,000 at authorized dealers. Pre-owned examples typically trade in the $28,000-$36,000 range depending on condition and whether service records accompany the piece. The fusée complication adds real resale resistance compared to the base Tradition models without it, because the buyer pool is smaller and service cost awareness deters casual buyers.

That asymmetry can work in a patient buyer's favor if you are willing to wait for a clean example with documented service history.

Service expectations

Caliber 569 manual-wind requires service at Breguet Le Brassus or a watchmaker with documented fusée-and-chain experience, roughly every five to seven years depending on wear. The chain itself is inspected and replaced as a complete subassembly rather than individual links; Breguet service can quote this separately before you commit. Budget substantially more than a standard Breguet service estimate when the fusée is involved.