Observing Earth’s ceaseless rotation, that perpetual rhythm of light and shadow inspired Breguet’s latest creation, a timepiece that captures the planet’s constant motion with a level of technical finesse that even NASA’s engineers might admire. The Marine Hora Mundi 5555 takes direct inspiration from NASA’s ‘Black Marble’ satellite imagery, creating a luminous interpretation of the world rendered in a dial.
Its debut is perfectly timed. As the fifth chapter in Breguet’s 250th-anniversary celebrations, the Marine Hora Mundi 5555 links Abraham-Louis Breguet’s 1815 appointment as Watchmaker to the French Royal Navy with contemporary global mobility. Today’s interpretation acknowledges that oceans are no longer barriers but merely waypoints on our global journeys.
The Gold Standard
The Marine collection gains its first case crafted from Breguet’s proprietary gold alloy, marking a significant material evolution for this line. At 43.9mm diameter, the case achieves presence without excess, whilst the polished central attachment provides striking contrast against satin-brushed flanks. This dual-finish approach amplifies the warm characteristics inherent to their special gold formulation.
Beneath the surface, the calibre 77F1 movement handles dual time zones with mechanical precision rather than digital convenience. The 384-component movement indicates local time and date whilst simultaneously tracking a second location selected from 24 global cities. Operating at 4Hz with 55-hour power reserve, this patented architecture eliminates the mental arithmetic typically required for international time coordination.
Earth, Reimagined in layers
Rather than a simple surface, the dial represents a two-layer composition of remarkable depth. The base, in engine-turned 18K gold, is etched with meridians and parallels to create a trompe-l’oeil of planetary curvature on the flat surface.
Above it, a translucent sapphire crystal receives hand-painting in three demanding stages. First, artisans apply enamel continents in reverse on the underside, with mirror-image work fired at extreme temperatures for lasting adhesion. Next, delicate cloud formations are painted on the front surface, each unique to the artist’s interpretation, ensuring every timepiece possesses distinctive atmospheric character.
The final phase introduces the most innovative element, a phosphorescent enamel painting to simulate city lights at night. Rather than applying a conventional Super-LumiNova, the artisans have developed a miniature phosphorescent enamel technique currently subject to patent application. This creates a sophisticated glow that replicates the orbital perspective of Earth’s nighttime illumination.
Tailored to Every Journey
Each of the 50 pieces offers collectors bespoke touches: a city disc customised to individual travel patterns, a discreet 250th-anniversary Quai de l’Horloge guilloché on the caseback, and a commemorative emblem on the sapphire crystal that preserves full visibility of the movement. The oscillating weight, crafted in Breguet gold for the first time, adds an additional touch of exclusivity.
This limited edition comes in an exotic navy blue alligator leather strap featuring large scales with an 18K Breguet gold 3-blade folding clasp, and also includes an additional rubber alternative for functionality. The piece is displayed in a luxurious red leather box inspired by historical Moroccan cases from the brand’s archives, individually numbered to match each timepiece.
Additional features include 100-metre water resistance and anti-reflective coating on both sides of the crystal, ensuring clarity in any lighting whether that be fluorescent airport terminals or tropical sunlight. The day/night indicator at 4 o’clock denotes whether the selected time zone corresponds to morning or evening, a subtle but essential tool for international communications.
As part of Breguet’s 250th-anniversary celebrations, the Marine Hora Mundi 5555 reflects the brand’s rich horological heritage while adapting to the needs of today’s global traveller. It’s a timepiece that is as precise as it is visually captivating.