Wristwatches · Wristwatch
Breguet Classique Date Automatic 3320, 1989
- Maker / attribution
- Breguet (maker)
- Date
- 1989
- Historical period
- Quartz Revolution (1969 – 1990)
- Country of origin
- Switzerland
- Object type
- Wristwatch
- Dimensions
- Diameter 33 mm
- Stock no.
- CUR558
- Credit line
- Dealer listing, Watches of Knightsbridge (CUR558)
- Catalogue title (original)
- 1989 Breguet Classique Date Automatic 3320 (English)
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Record summary
Catalogued by Watches of Knightsbridge (dealer), London (stock number CUR558), this is a wristwatch by Breguet, made in Switzerland, dated 1989. The Atlas places it in the Quartz Revolution period (1969 – 1990) of its Wristwatches collection. Recorded dimensions: Diameter 33 mm. The record is illustrated with 6 photographs.
Assembled from the source record's structured fields. Dates and attributions are given as the source states them; where a field is missing the Atlas leaves it blank rather than estimating.
Catalogue description
Dealer description — Watches of Knightsbridge
Breguet Classique Ultra Thin Automatic reference 3320BA, delivered on September 12, 1988 to Caldex Milano (official Breguet agent in Italy) as confirmed by the Breguet Heritage department. This rare early example features its original dial with two styles of guilloché finish with inner Roman Numeral display, instantly recognisable being from the Daniel Roth era. The 33mm ultra-slim coin edge case houses a fine calibre 549 automatic movement with centre seconds and date function. Overall the watch is in excellent original condition and has recently been serviced by an independent watchmaker.
Specifications — Watches of Knightsbridge
Reference: 3320BA; Movement: Automatic Cal. 549; Case diameter: 33mm; Bracelet/strap: Leather Strap W/ Generic Pin Buckle
Historical context
Quartz Revolution (1969 – 1990)
Seiko's Astron begins mass quartz timekeeping; traditional industries contract sharply.
Quartz and digital watches transformed the market after 1969. Swiss employment collapsed, Japanese and Hong Kong production soared, and the Swatch (1983) helped the Swiss industry recover; mechanical watches survived as luxury goods.
Read the period in the timelineMore wristwatches from this periodEarlier: Modern Mechanical Horology
Atlas type guide
Automatic (self-winding) watches
Self-winding watches use the wearer's motion to wind the mainspring. Abraham-Louis Perrelet and Breguet made 'perpétuelle' pocket watches with oscillating weights in the late eighteenth century, but the principle only became practical in the wristwatch. John Harwood patented a bumper automatic in 1923; Rolex's Perpetual rotor (1931) winding in one direction, and later bidirectional rotors (Eterna, Felsa Bidynator), established the modern form. Micro-rotors (Universal Genève, Buren) and peripheral rotors made automatic watches thinner.
What to look for
- A semicircular rotor turning 360° over the movement, or a 'bumper' weight that rebounds between springs.
- 'Automatic', 'Perpetual' or 'Self-winding' on the dial.
- A sealed screw-back case, since automatic watches are wound less often by the crown.
Dating clues
- Bumper automatics: 1923–c. 1955.
- Full rotors: from 1931 (Rolex); widespread after c. 1950.
- Micro-rotors: from 1954–1958.
General guidance written by the Atlas editors about this kind of object. It is not a statement about this particular piece; for that, rely on the source record above and on physical examination.
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