The Breguet Caliber 502.3 is one of the manufacture’s most refined ultra-thin automatic movements, widely respected for combining slim architecture, modern materials, and traditional haute horlogerie finishing. Designed primarily for elegant dress watches, this movement reflects Breguet’s long tradition of precision watchmaking while integrating contemporary silicon technology for improved reliability and efficiency.
At just 2.4 mm thick, the caliber 502.3 is among the thinnest automatic movements produced by Breguet, enabling extremely slim watch cases without sacrificing performance. Its off-center rotor design enhances winding efficiency while preserving the movement’s thin profile and aesthetic openness.
Technical Specifications — Breguet Caliber 502.3
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Breguet |
| Caliber | 502.3 |
| Movement Type | Automatic (self-winding) |
| Diameter | 27.10 mm |
| Thickness | ~2.4 mm |
| Jewels | 35 |
| Frequency | 21,600 vph (3 Hz) |
| Power Reserve | Approx. 45 hours |
| Components | ~162 |
| Functions | Hours, Minutes (base version) |
| Rotor | Off-center oscillating weight |
| Escapement | Silicon anchor & flat silicon balance spring |
| Finishing | Côtes de Genève, perlage, anglage (varies by model) |
Breguet Caliber 502.3 — Movement Overview
The Caliber 502.3 is a modern evolution of Breguet’s ultra-thin automatic movement family, engineered to balance slimness, precision, and durability.
Ultra-Thin Architecture
Measuring approximately 2.4 mm in height, this movement enables watches to maintain extremely elegant case profiles, often under 7 mm thick. Despite its thinness, it remains robust and reliable for daily wear.
Off-Center Rotor Design
A distinctive feature of the 502.3 is its decentralized oscillating weight, which improves winding efficiency while keeping the movement thin and visually appealing through the caseback.
Silicon Technology
Breguet incorporates silicon for the balance spring and escapement, improving resistance to magnetism, temperature variation, and wear. This enhances long-term precision and reliability.
Efficiency and Precision
Running at 3 Hz with a 45-hour power reserve, the movement delivers stable timekeeping while maintaining low energy consumption, a key advantage in ultra-thin movement construction.
Haute Horlogerie Finishing
Visible through sapphire casebacks, the 502.3 showcases traditional decorative techniques such as Geneva stripes, perlage, and hand-finished bevels, emphasizing Breguet’s heritage in fine watchmaking.
Variants Based on Caliber 502.3
Several complications and enhanced versions are built on the same base architecture:
- 502.3 SD — Small seconds
- 502.3 DR1 — Moonphase, date, power reserve
- 502.3 QSE1 — Calendar with moonphase
- 502.3.P — Perpetual calendar
- 502.3.DRL — Complicated calendar/moonphase version
These variants demonstrate the versatility of the 502.3 platform across simple and complicated dress watches.
Watches Using Breguet Caliber 502.3
Below are notable models powered by the base 502.3 movement and its close variants.
Core Models (Base Caliber 502.3)
- Breguet Classique 5157BB/11/9V6 (White Gold)
- Breguet Classique 5157BA/11/9V6 (Yellow Gold)
- Breguet Classique 5157BR/11/9V6 (Rose Gold)
Other Notable Watches Using 502.3 Variants
Simple / Small Seconds
- Breguet Classique 7147 (502.3 SD)
Moonphase / Calendar Variants
- Breguet Classique 7137 (502.3 DR1)
- Breguet Classique Calendrier 7337 (502.3 QSE1)
Perpetual Calendar Variant
- Breguet Classique Perpetual Calendar 7327 (502.3.P)
Limited & Special Editions
- Breguet Classique 7145 Limited Edition
Conclusion
The Breguet Caliber 502.3 stands as one of the most elegant ultra-thin automatic movements in modern horology. Combining slim engineering, silicon innovation, and traditional finishing, it powers some of Breguet’s most refined dress watches. Its modular architecture allows multiple complications while preserving thinness, making it a cornerstone movement within the Breguet Classique collection.
For collectors and enthusiasts, the 502.3 represents the perfect balance between technical sophistication and timeless elegance—a true embodiment of Breguet’s watchmaking philosophy.
