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The Encyclopedia of Horology

Wristwatch · Minute-repeating tourbillon wristwatch

Breguet 250th Anniversary Minute Repeater Tourbillon Ref. 3857PT

Partially verified

This Breguet wristwatch, numbered 1748 and reference 3857PT, was created in 1997 to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the birth of Abraham Louis Breguet. The timepiece is crafted in platinum and features a highly complex movement, Caliber 556 QPRT. Key functions include a one-minute tourbillon regulator, minute repeating, a jump-hour display, and a perpetual calendar with a retrograde date and leap-year indication. The watch is housed in a three-body platinum case measuring 40 mm in diameter and 13 mm in thickness, featuring a coin-edge band, straight lugs, and a transparent case back. The silver dial is decorated with guilloché patterns and includes a secret signature. The movement is rhodium-plated and finished with oeil-de-perdrix patterns. It is accompanied by a fitted green lacquered wooden box, a platinum setting tool with chain, an extra strap, and a certificate.

The Ref. 3857PT showing the jump-hour aperture, perpetual calendar displays, and the one-minute tourbillon.
The Ref. 3857PT showing the jump-hour aperture, perpetual calendar displays, and the one-minute tourbillon. — Antiquorum. Rights pending — permission not yet requested. Original source

Catalogue identity

Source
catalog.antiquorum.swiss
Category
Wristwatch · Minute-repeating tourbillon wristwatch
Maker / attribution
Breguet
Reference
3857PT
Catalogue / lot identifier
276
Source-reported date
1997
Source-reported place
Switzerland
Source-reported serial
1748

Source-reported attribution and specifications are not independent authentication. A listing does not establish present ownership, current display, availability or permission to reproduce.

Object description

Case and Dial Construction

The timepiece is housed in a three-body platinum case measuring 40 mm in diameter. The design features a polished finish with a curved bezel and a characteristic coin-edge band. The lugs are straight, and the watch is fitted with sapphire crystals on both the front and the transparent case back.

The dial is rendered in silver with guilloché finishing. It displays a jump-hour aperture at the 2 o'clock position, utilizing black Arabic numerals on a matte gilt ground. Additional complications include a minutes chapter, a concentric fly-back date sector with a blued steel pointer, and subsidiary dials for days of the week and months. An aperture for the leap-year cycle and a seconds track surrounding the tourbillon are also present.

Evidence for this section
  • “Three-body, solid, polished, curved bezel, coin-edge band, straight lugs, transparent back, sapphire crystals.”
  • “Guilloché silver, jump-houraperture with black Arabic numerals on a matte gilt ground”
  • “concentricfly-back date sector with blued steel triangular pointer”

Movement and Regulator

The movement is the 13 1/2''' Caliber 556 QPRT, which is rhodium-plated and features oeil-de-perdrix decoration. It comprises 29 jewels and incorporates a one-minute tourbillon regulator. The tourbillon cage features three equidistant polished steel arms and a polished steel bridge. The escapement is a lateral lever type, paired with a monometallic balance and a self-compensating blued steel Breguet balance spring.

Functionally, the watch includes a minute-repeating mechanism that operates on gongs, which is activated via a slide located in the case band. The movement uses an index regulator for timekeeping adjustments. The entire assembly is designed to balance complex calendar and repeating functions with the aesthetic presentation of the tourbillon.

Evidence for this section
  • “13 1/2''', Cal. 556 QPRT, rhodium plated, "oeil-de-perdrix" decoration, 29jewels, one-minute tourbillon regulator”
  • “lateral lever escapement,monometallic balance, self-compensating blued steel Breguet balance spring”
  • “repeating on gongs activated by a slidein the band.”

Provenance and Documentation

This watch was produced in 1997 to mark the 250th anniversary of the birth of Abraham Louis Breguet. The auction description reports that this specific piece was created upon a special request. The watch is signed on the dial, case, and movement.

Included with the sale are several original accessories, including a fitted green lacquered wooden box, a Breguet platinum setting tool, a chain, an extra strap, and the Breguet certificate. The auction house provides a condition grade of 1 for the case, movement, and dial.

Evidence for this section
  • “The present watch was made to mark the 250th anniversary of Breguet's birth.”
  • “This remarkable and very complicated piece was created upon special request.”
  • “Accompanied by the Breguet platinum setting tool and chain, extra strap, fitted green laquered wooden box and Breguet certificate.”

Open research questions

  • What is the identity of the client who made the 'special request' for this anniversary timepiece?
  • How many examples of the Ref. 3857PT were produced in total for the 250th anniversary edition?

Source evidence

Recorded claims and source quotations for Breguet 250th Anniversary Minute Repeater Tourbillon Ref. 3857PT
FieldSource-reported valueSource quotation
MakerBreguet“Breguet, No.1748, Ref. 3857PT.”
Year1997“Made in 1997 to commemorate the 250th Anniversary of the birth of Abraham Louis Breguet”
Case MaterialPlatinum“minute repeating platinum gentleman's wristwatch”
Movement CaliberCal. 556 QPRT“13 1/2''', Cal. 556 QPRT”
ComplicationsMinute repeating, tourbillon, jump-hours, perpetual calendar“minute repeating platinum gentleman's wristwatch with visible one-minute tourbillon regulator, jump-hours, perpetual calendar with retrograde date, leap-year indication”
Case Dimensions40 mm diameter, 13 mm thickness“Diam. 40 mm. Thickness 13 mm.”

Visible details

  • Visibility of the one-minute tourbillon cage at the 7 o'clock position
  • Jump-hour aperture at the 2 o'clock position with Arabic numerals
  • Retrograde date sector with blued steel pointer
  • Visible coin-edge detailing on the side of the case band

Research qualifications

  • The source describes the watch as created upon 'special request' without detailing the specific client
  • The exact number of pieces produced for this specific anniversary reference is not confirmed

Photograph identity and source facts were screened before import; rights clearance remains pending.

Consulted source

"1747 - 1997 - Breguet 250th Anniversary" Breguet, No.1748, Ref. 3857PT. Made in 1997 to commemorate the 250th Anniversary of the birth of Abraham Louis Breguet (1747 - 1823). Extremely fine and rare, minute repeating platinum gentleman's wristwatch with visible one-minute tourbillon regulator, jump-hours, perpetual calendar with retrograde date, leap-year indication and a Breguet platinum buckle. Accompanied by the Breguet platinum setting tool and chain, extra strap, fitted green laquered wooden box and Breguet certificate.

Reviewed 2026-10-26 · Record ebbf0a3da0

Terms in this record

Glossary explanations for terms named in this object’s record.

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