In 2005, Breguet launched its iconic Tradition collection with the 7027 model, the first timepiece to showcase the mechanisms of the movement on top of the baseplate. Much imitated but never equalled, this collection has since filled out and this year welcomes an outstanding new model: the new Breguet Tradition Automatique Seconde Rétrograde ref. 7097 —Automatic Retrograde Seconds. This new watch, like the rest of the collection, is inspired by the 'subscription watches' and recalls the genius of Abraham-Louis Breguet who first produced these one-hand watches in 1796. They were fitted with a very simple movement and sold by subscription: a down payment of a quarter of the price on order and the balance on delivery. Abraham-Louis Breguet also used the movements of his 'subscription' watches for his first tact watches. The new Tradition ref. 7097 pays further tribute to the mechanisms of the 'subscription' and tact watches by revealing the bridges, wheels, escapement, barrel and other components of the movement, which are usually hidden beneath the baseplate.