The first Breguet Marine, ref. 3400SA, in steel with an 18ct gold bezel and fluted gold caseband, its hand-guilloché dial numbered 3714 to match the case. Complete on its original two-tone Marine bracelet, with its box and certificate.
Breguet kept the hand engine-turning of its dress watches for the Marine, and the dial says so at six: Swiss Guilloché Main. The turned centre sits inside a plain silvered chapter ring with black Roman numerals, a dotted minute track and a beaded gold edge, and the date window takes the place of the VI. Blued Breguet pomme hands and a blued centre seconds, and at the top of the dial the signature with the watch's own number, 3714. It is clean, with the print sharp and the turning crisp.
- 1The numbered signatureAt the top of the dial the signature with the watch's own number, 3714, matching the case.
- 2Blued pomme handsBlued Breguet pomme hands and a blued centre seconds.
- 3Hand-turned centreThe turned centre sits inside a plain silvered chapter ring with black Roman numerals, a dotted minute track and a beaded gold edge.
- 4Date in place of VIThe date window takes the place of the VI; the quickset date changes cleanly and sits centred in the window.
- 5Swiss Guilloché MainBreguet kept the hand engine-turning of its dress watches for the Marine, and the dial says so at six.
The 3400 is the original Breguet Marine: a 35.5mm automatic with date and centre seconds that put the house's classical details into a sporting case. It was introduced with the collection in 1990 and made until the line was redrawn in 2005. This is the steel and gold version, the 3400SA, from the first half of that run.
The case is what sets it apart from Breguet's dress watches. A pair of steel guards stands out from the right flank to shield the crown, and the band of the case is fluted along its full circumference, the coin-edge finish Breguet also gives its Classique cases. Here the fluted band and the stepped bezel above it are 18ct yellow gold, set against a steel case body, steel guards and a steel back, and the fluting carries on across the steel at each end of the case where the bracelet is fitted. The steel crown between the guards is capped with the Breguet rosette.
It is on the original Breguet Marine bracelet in the same two metals: rows of brushed steel links joined by polished gold, gold edge links down each side, and a folding clasp closed by a gold cover signed Breguet. The gold of the bezel and caseband is picked up link by link along its length.
The dial is signed Breguet with the watch's individual number, 3714, and the caseback carries the same number with its series letter, 3714E, together with AUTOMATIQUE, STAINLESS STEEL and HORLOGER DE LA MARINE. The watch keeps its Breguet certificate of origin and guarantee, filled in by hand with the same number, 3714E, and stamped and dated by the Vienna retailer who sold it new in January 1995. It comes in its green Breguet box, with Horloger de la Marine printed inside the lid.
The gold clasp cover is signed Breguet and the clasp is stamped inside. The back also carries a personal inscription in script, added by an earlier owner.
- Maker
- Breguet
- Model
- Marine Automatique
- Reference
- 3400SA
- Serial
- 3714E (case), 3714 (dial)
- Case material
- Stainless steel with 18ct yellow gold bezel and fluted caseband
- Diameter
- 35.5mm
- Lug to lug
- 43mm
- Movement
- Automatic, calibre 549, 36 jewels
- Dial
- Silvered, hand guilloché, black Roman numerals
- Complications
- Date (quickset), centre seconds
- Bracelet
- Original Breguet two-tone steel and 18ct gold, folding clasp, 13 links
- Year
- Circa 1994-1995
- Country
- Switzerland
- Box / papers
- Original Breguet box (Horloger de la Marine); Breguet certificate of origin and guarantee, completed with the watch number and dated by the retailer, January 1995
- Warranty
- 12 months, mechanical, through Vintage Times Amsterdam from date of delivery
12-month mechanical warranty through Vintage Times Amsterdam from date of delivery.
