Vintage & Auctions
Collectors Speak: The Breguet Tradition Ref. 7027 and 7037
Who better to supply expert opinion and observations on a specific timepiece than the people who own one? Watchonista brought together a select group of collectors to go deep on the exquisite Breguet Tradition Ref. 7027 and 7037.
By Watchonista
When first introduced in 2004, the Breguet Tradition instantly sparked interest as a timepiece that bridged gaps, like the gap between A.-L. Breguet’s foundational timepiece work on the 1805 “Souscription” timepiece and the brand’s current modern approach to watchmaking, or the gap between exacting, sober classical design and more visible artfulness.
Most easily stated, the gap that the Tradition was somehow able to bridge was between traditionalism and modernity. The Ref. 7027 Tradition was the starting point for thoughtful variations on the same enduring, uncanny bridge-gapping theme. You can learn more about the current Breguet Tradition line here, and catch up with Watchonista’s most recent Tradition coverage here.
And now, please meet our esteemed panel of experts:
The Watchonista Panel
Marco Gabella
Yes, Marco happens to be Watchonista’s Chairman and Executive Publisher, but the Swiss native is also a more-than-avid watch collector. If you have not had the distinct honor, a visit with Marco usually involves a superb home-cooked Italian dish paired with exquisite wines, followed by tray after tray of truly fascinating timepieces to peruse and talk about. Not to mention a tour of his very serious humidor. Marco owns a white gold Breguet Tradition Ref. 7027 from its inaugural year of 2004.
Amr Sindi
With an Instagram handle like that, collector and influencer Amr Sindi must be very confident about his watch collecting bona fides, and for good reason. One of the founders of the artistic, out-of-the-box, self-described “not a watch brand,” Kollokium, this Ivory Coast-born Swiss collector’s timepiece tastes run the gamut, from the impressively traditional to the wholly unexpected. After a two-decade wait, Sindi has a white gold Ref. 7037.
Robert-Jan Broer
Another foundational member of the illustrious timepiece press, this Dutch collector is the founder of Fratello Watches and unsurpassed in both his tastes and his knowledge. (Fun Fact: “Fratello” means “brother” in Italian. “Broer” is also a word for “brother” but in Dutch. So, you get a quick hint to his inclusive, community-focused nature.) Broer’s Breguet Tradition model is a 37mm yellow gold Ref. 7027BA.
On Special Appeal
The three panelists expressed diverse opinions on what exactly makes the Breguet Tradition an outstanding addition to their collections. For Marco Gabella, the timepiece’s appeal lies in its disruptive mechanics.
“The Breguet Tradition is undoubtedly a watch apart,” Gabella said. “With its reversed movement, the wearer can admire the mechanical poetry of the balance wheel and escapement, as well as the iconic symmetrical bridges architecture as designed in 1805 by Abraham-Louis Breguet.
“I bought my first wristwatch in 1994. Over the years, I’ve gradually focused on timepieces that’ve shaped their respective eras. The Breguet Tradition definitely rewrote the rules in the early 2000s, and its overall look remains as unique as ever.”
“I got more seriously into watches around 2006. I was 20 at the time, fresh out of college without a job and a burgeoning passion for things that don’t exactly fit a graduate’s budget,” the youthful Amr Sindi told us, adding some personal history to his fascination with the timepiece.
Sindi continued: “La Tradition by Breguet was among the earliest watches that I was completely enamored by. It immediately stood out not just in Breguet’s catalogue but in the entire watchmaking landscape.
“I think the appeal for me is the fact that it’s a watch that shows the science and magic of watchmaking in a way that even the uninitiated can appreciate. It’s certainly one of the more classical pieces in my otherwise quirky and outlandish collection.”
For Robert-Jan Broer, the watch’s connective story between classic and modern horology is what holds his interest, along with the visual pleasure it gives: “It’s the modern Breguet watch that nods to a watch A.-L. Breguet created for his customers in the late 18th century. It’s horological history on the wrist.
“It is the only watch in my collection that reveals the mechanical wonders to the wearer (me) via the dial side. Every other watch, I need to take it off and flip it around to admire its inner workings.”
On Story Telling Oomph
Of course, one of the joys of owning a spectacular timepiece is the opportunity to talk about it, often at length, with fellow like-minded watch aficionados (or really anyone who takes note of your wrist). “My 7027BA takes an important spot in my watch collection, simply because it is a Breguet and because it demonstrates what mechanical watches are about,” explained Broer.
However, for Broer, it goes beyond the expected discussion: “It also tells a story, without becoming a product of storytelling only. It’s a high-end watch, and due to the visible mechanical part, it’s very often a conversation maker amongst both watch enthusiasts and those who are about to be one.”
For Gabella, the timepiece is a welcome way to start conversations with those in-the-know, as well as the uninitiated. “Out of all my watches, the Breguet Tradition is by far the one that has fascinated my friends who have no interest in watchmaking,” he told us. “The mesmerizing dance of the balance spring and the regulating organ captivates and intrigues far beyond any mechanical understanding.”
As Sindi explained: “I hesitated buying my Ref. 7037 over the 7027. But ultimately, I opted for the 7037 for several reasons. For starters, the case is just slightly wider and taller than its manual-winding counterpart. I also really appreciate the retrograde seconds in lieu of the power reserve indicator, which is perhaps a bit redundant in an automatic watch.
“And lastly, of course, the automatic winding system is notable. It is also based on A.-L. Breguet’s inventions and looks like nothing else you’d find in a wristwatch. Wearing the 7037, I feel like the front and back are equally interesting and convey different accomplishments and inventions of Breguet.”
On Getting the “Feels”
There is how a watch works, how a watch looks, and how you talk about a watch. But none of that compares with how wearing a special watch makes you feel.
For Sindi, it is a very personal statement of pride: “There is a personal sense of accomplishment for having obtained a watch I once considered a grail. But beyond that, it makes me feel like a time traveler, like I’m living in the golden age of watchmaking in the 1700s and early 1800s. It’s one of the rare watches where there’s absolutely nothing I would change. It is as close to perfection as it gets, really.”
“Quite frankly, this watch is a constant reminder of what watchmaking is truly about,” said Broer, who feels a profound sense of horological significance when he wears his Tradition. “It’s an object you don’t need in 2025, but it shows what human hands can do when it comes to precision, finishing, decoration, and so on. It is pure craftsmanship.”
Gabella’s emotions are based around ageless technical thrills and his own inspiring enthusiasm. “Even though skeleton and open-worked movements are now the trend, the Tradition retains its own unique language – with its small off-center dial at 12 o’clock and a scenic display of its mechanics,” he shared. “As a grown-up child who has always loved toys, I still feel the same thrill as the first day whenever I wear or even just admire this piece. It’s pure magic.”
On Next Steps
Certainly, the Breguet Tradition models owned by these three collectors resonate profoundly with their tastes, attitudes, and sense of value. But based on these tracked auction results, that can be said of this timepiece across the spectrum of experienced collectors. So, do these sagacious Tradition owners have any advice for the interested? You bet.
Both Broer and Sindi are very enthusiastic. “Buy one. Today. If I had known earlier how much I would appreciate wearing this watch and Breguet’s watchmaking, I would have bought mine earlier,” Broer said.
Sindi echoed that advice: “What are you waiting for? Seriously. Don’t sleep on what I consider one of the most interesting and relatively attainable watches of the 21st century.”
Gabella tempers his comments by mentioning a more recent version of the Tradition that he finds particularly intriguing. “The Breguet Tradition Tourbillon 7047, with its fusée-and-chain transmission, sits firmly at the top of my wish list,” Gabella said. “Its visual intensity makes it the supercharged version of the Tradition – like a Ford Mustang but a Shelby Cobra 421. Beastly and extreme.”
To learn more about the watchmaker, visit the Breguet website.