Breitling Automatic Watch, Luxury Breitling Automatic Watch

Breitling Galactic Chronograph II (A1336410F517379A)

I was ready to do backflips when I got this as a Christmas present. Incredible Breitling Galactic Chronograph II (A1336410F517379A) watch, flawless, beautiful and I can wear it anywhere. My mother has a Movado which is very similar, and has been wearing it daily for the past 25 years! I'm ecstatic. Incredible price and quality! Thanks !!!

---- [Rating: 5 / 5 stars]

Review by SD T, From USA Alamo

Breitling Galactic 41 (C49350L2A706366C)

A second watch of the same brand after the first one worked perfectly. A best gift to birthday and festival occasions.

---- [Rating: 5 / 5 stars]

Review by Patti H, From Belgium Heusden Zolder

Breitling Chronomat B01 Antarctica White Chronograph Men's Watch AB011011-A690SS

Well designed and top quality product! The leather is really beautiful. Shopping is my favorite pass time, and this Breitling Chronomat B01 Antarctica White Chronograph Men's AB011011-A690SS watch box is beautifully made and a good value. Bought this for a birthday gift, and will buy more for holiday gifts. A really great find.

---- [Rating: 5 / 5 stars]

Review by keiji miura, From U.S.A Carson

On 1 December 2014, Tristan Boyer de Bouillane was appointed General Manager of Perrelet, a brand that specialises in automatic watches, and a member of the Swiss Festina Group since 2004. This Franco-Swiss, now in his fifties, trained at the Institut Superieur de Gestion in Paris and began his professional career with a Hong Kong transport company. Tristan Boyer de Bouillane discovered the watchmaking world with Charriol, where he spent eight years: four as head of its Middle-Eastern subsidiary, and four more as Sales Export Manager.
In 2000 he was made sales manager at Daniel Roth & Gerald Genta, and was given a seat on the management board. Between 2010 and 2014 he held a number of positions and responsibilities in sales and marketing, including Asia Pacific Sales Director in Singapore and in Switzerland, for Breitling. He left to join Perrelet in 2014.

Perrelet explains that the appointment of Tristan Boyer de Bouillane is intended to strengthen its management and to enable Gerald Roden to focus on his role within the Swiss Festina Group. Tristan Boyer de Bouillane will contribute to the expansion of the brand at the international level as well as helping to consolidate its innovative approach.

After graduating from the Institut Superieur de Gestion in Paris, this French-Swiss national, aged 50 and father of two, began his career in a transport company in Hong Kong. Following this, he worked for Philippe Charriol in Geneva for eight years. In 2000, he took over as head of sales and was a member of the management committee of Daniel Roth & Gerald Genta. From 2010 onwards, he filled a number of key positions in the realm of sales and marketing for Breitling, in Switzerland and Asia, and directed the creation of a subsidiary in India.

Tristan Boyer de Bouillane said he was delighted to be joining Perrelet. Convinced that this niche brand has enormous potential and that the Festina Group will provide the tools necessary to do the job, he wishes to reposition Perrelet amongst the greatest Swiss brands. "We intend to strengthen Perrelet's legitimacy as a Manufacture, by offering in due course exclusively self-winding watches equipped with our own movement. The group's support is key to our development", he added.

On May 24th 1962, a Breitling Navitimer chronograph became the first wrist instrument to share in the conquest of space by accompanying the Aurora 7 flight. To celebrate the 50th anniversary of this historical feat, the brand is launching into orbit a new Navitimer Cosmonaute equipped with a high-performance Manufacture Breitling movement, entirely developed and produced in the company workshops.

This 1,962-piece limited edition is distinguished by its 24-hour display, its manual-winding mode - two nods to the original 1962 chronograph - as well as the Aurora 7 mission insignia engraved on the caseback. Navitimer Cosmonaute. The legend continues.
Maiden space flight
The early 1960s were all about the space race. The Americans launched the Mercury program intended to develop manned flights. They were looking for a high-performance, accurate and reliable chronograph capable of withstanding exceptional conditions. With this in mind, they naturally turned to Breitling, the "official supplier to world aviation" and a privileged partner of the finest hours in aeronautical history. The Navitimer, the cult pilot's watch created in 1952, with its famous circular slide rule serving to perform all operations relating to airborne navigation, naturally asserted itself as the ideal instrument in taking up this challenge. It successfully passed all the required tests, and on May 24th 1962, Lt Commander Scott Carpenter orbited the Earth three times aboard the Aurora 7 capsule. On his wrist was a Navitimer equipped with a 24-hour graduated scale serving to distinguish day from night - an absolute necessity in space. Mission accomplished. This was a major new token of recognition for Breitling, and this space conquest pioneer soon entered the brand's collections under the name of Cosmonaute.

The engine driving the accomplishment
The new Manufacture Breitling Caliber 02 power- ing the Navitimer Cosmonaute stands out by its 24-hour display and its manual-winding system - two distinctive features echoing the model that accompanied Scott Carpenter in orbiting the Earth. It was developed by the Breitling engineers and watchmakers based on Caliber 01, the world's best chronograph movement, and is endowed with all the assets of this exceptional "engine" - including an original column-wheel structure, maximum reliability, security and functionality, unfaltering sturdiness and exceptional precision confirmed by a chronometer certificate granted by the COSC (Swiss Official Chronometer Testing Institute). Issued in a 1,962-piece limited edition, the 50th anniversary Navitimer Cosmonaute features a black dial with silver counters. The dial motif is created using the refined "par epargne" process on a sterling silver base, thereby guaranteeing the peerless radiance and readability of the indications. In addition to the Aurora 7 mission insignia, the engraved caseback also carries a Celsius/Fahrenheit con- version scale - another detail faithful to the design of the vintage Navitimer models.

In 2009, Breitling took its place within the exclusive circle of watch companies with their own mechanical chronograph movement. Not only was the development of this Caliber 01 intended to ensure the brand's long-term independence, but as a specialist of chronographs and instruments for professionals, Breitling also set itself the goal of making the world's best chronograph movement. Best in terms of performance, reliability and functionality.

With this in mind, the firm put in place an avant-garde industrial facility and in-house competencies enabling it to produce its movements according to its own high standards, while ensuring maximum reliability on a large scale - around 40,000 movements in 2011. Caliber 01, which is chronometer-certified like all the brand's movements, currently powers several of Breitling's star models, including the Chronomat, the Navitimer, the Montbrillant and the Transocean. The firm's engineers have also used it as the basis for creating several innovative movements featuring functions that are both useful and user-friendly, such as Caliber 04 with its highly ingenious second timezone system, and the brand-new worldtimer Caliber 05.
To confirm the exceptional reliability of these in-house movements, Breitling has decided to introduce an exclusive five-year warranty on all models equipped with its Manufacture calibers - meaning around half its range of mechanical chronographs. This move represents an exceptional measure at this level of production, and a powerful seal of confidence for all users of Breitling wrist instruments.

Another top-flight feat makes aviation history. After crossing the Channel, flying alongside two Boeing Stearman biplanes carrying the Breitling Wingwalkers, looping the loop around a hot-air balloon and hurtling across the sky over the Grand Canyon, Yves "Jetman" Rossy has shifted up yet another gear with a formation flight alongside two jets from the Breitling Jet Team.

The world's first jet-powered man jumped off a helicopter with his rigid wing equipped with four jet engines. Adjusting his trajectory and altitude by his body movements alone, he then performed aerobatic figures above the Swiss Alps in the company of two L-39C Albatros planes from the Breitling Jet Team, the world's largest professional civilian aerobatics team performing on jets. 

A stunning show - and a major new accomplishment supported by Breitling, the privileged partner of worldwide aviation.

WORLDTEMPUS - 28 March 2011

"We sell timepieces and emotions. We don't sell quality because quality is a must for Breitling," Breitling VP Jean-Paul Girardin replied to the question whether he considered Breitling's watches luxury or quality timepieces. When confronted with the repeated question, he admitted luxury being linked to independency. This, of course, in terms of not being overly dependent on external suppliers - which is precisely where Breitling is going with the in-house B01 movement.

Traveling back and forth in time
"We wanted to create a platform from where we can build other complications," Girardin said as he introduced the 47-millimeter Chronomat 44 GMT containing the next evolution of the in-house caliber called 04. This caliber configuration offers a GMT function that allows the date to be adjusted backward and forwardc. According to Girardin, this is the first chronograph watch that offers a GMT function that can be retrofitted when traveling back in time, so to speak. "We have not yet found any other chronograph that offers this patented function." In any case, this certainly is a rarely seen function on a chronograph watch.

In the cockpit
Beside the Chronomat 44 GMT Caliber 04, Girardin also presented the first - unlimited - Navitimer using the in-house caliber. Of course, the Navitimer is one of Breitling's most famous and indeed iconic timepieces. The watch that literally put Breitling in the cockpit, making the Swiss watch brand one of the first in terms of creating a professional tool watch especially made for aviation purposes. Some of the elements ensuring this are the slide-rule bezel and chronograph.

Talking cockpit, Girardin mentions that making their own movement and hence being more independent makes Breitling "like a captain of his own ship." Or rather, a pilot in his own airplane.

The authentic travel chronograph
Adjusting instantly to the time and date of the place of arrival, while maintaining a 24-hour home-time display and without losing any precision in counting the minutes, must be every traveler's dream. A dream now come true with the new Chronomat GMT, a travel watch from Breitling boasting unprecedented user friendliness. The wearer need only pull out the crown and turn it forwards or backwards to move between timezones in an outstandingly simple manner. Equipped with the new Breitling Caliber 04, entirely developed and produced within the company workshops, the Chronomat GMT is one of the rare chronographs to offer such a smoothly functional dual timezone system. With its exclusive design and its dial featuring subtle three-dimensional effects, it is the new benchmark for all those who want to experience high performances in all parts of the world.

An innovative mecanism
 
From the famous world-time Unitime, the star of the 1950s, to the current Navitimer World models with dual timezone display, travel watches have always had a special place in the Breitling collections. A natural vocation for the favorite pilots' brand that became "official supplier to world aviation". Today, Breitling is returning to the forefront in this field by unveiling a new instrument distinguished by its smart and convivial operating mode. To ensure peerless user friendliness, the firm's watchmakers and engineers have developed a differential system - for which a patent has been duly filed - serving to disconnect the local hour hand from the gear train when changing timezone. This operation thus has no effect on the precision of the watch, nor on the performances of the chronograph.

A high-performance chronograph
 
The fact that the Chronomat GMT is such an exceptional instrument is also because it combines this extremely practical dual timezone system with a chronograph - and not just any chronograph. The brand-new Breitling Caliber 04 developed for this model is indeed derived from Breitling Caliber 01, the sturdiest, most reliable and most high-performance of all selfwinding chronograph movements, entirely designed and produced within the company work-shops. It features the same original architecture and the same cutting-edge characteristics, including a column wheel, a vertical coupling clutch guaranteeing high-precision activation, and an over 70-hour power reserve - along with various innovative special characteristics such as the patented recentering device for the zero-resetting hammers. Designed to provide maximum operational functionality and security, Caliber 04 is manufactured using a high-tech production-chain system revolutionizing traditional movement assembly processes. Breitling thereby guarantees the authentic reliability of its "instruments for professionals" on a large scale. As is the case for all the brand's movements, this high-performance "engine" is chronometer-certified by the COSC (Swiss Official Chronometer Testing Institute), the highest token of precision.

A powerful style
 
The new Chronomat GMT is based on the powerful, unique and quintessential design of Breitling's leading model, with its imposing steel case featuring ultra-sturdy construction and water-resistant to 500 meters (1,650 ft), as well as its unidirectional rotating bezel engraved with exclusive numerals. However, its dial available in six colors with tone-on-tone or contrasting totalizers has been redesigned to give it a personality all its own. The applied hour-markers are fitted with highly original bases, inspired by Roman numerals. This refined detail accentuates the square shape of the central gridwork-patterned central zone that stands out in subtle ways depending on how it catches the light. The triangular openworked red-tipped hand points to home time on a 24-hour graduated scale partially covered by the inner bezel - thereby giving the dial even more life and depth by playing on the third dimension. The home-time hands and hour-markers are enhanced by a luminescent coating guaranteeing excellent readability by day and night. Entirely made in Switzerland and treated to extremely meticulous finishing, the Chronomat GMT may be teamed with a choice of various straps and bracelets offering a variety of styles and uses: the classic touch of Barenia or crocodile leather, the sporty spirit of rubber straps, and the sturdy masculine nature of the steel Pilot bracelet. A whole world of elegance and performance for the authentic travel chronograph.

Peerless functionality

The new Chronomat GMT is equipped with two central hour hands. The fi rst matches the minute hand and runs over a 12-hour scale, while the second is tipped with a red triangle and runs in 24-hour mode. When the user is in his home country, the two hour hands move in a perfectly synchronized manner.
Changing timezone
 
To adjust the 12-hour hand to local time, the user simply pulls the crown out to position 2 and turns it in either direction by the number of notches corresponding to the number of hours composing the time difference. The date display is indexed to this 12-hour hand and changes automatically if required, both backwards or forwards. The red-tipped hand keeps track of home time on a 24-hour basis, thus enabling one to distinguish between day and night and avoiding the risk of waking family members, friends or business contacts by phoning them when they are sound asleep. And if the traveler makes stopovers in several different timezones, he need only repeat the same operation on each occasion and then, upon returning home, reset the two hands to the same time. It's hard to imagine anything simpler!

WORLDTEMPUS - 29 March 2010

Breitling presented its solution to the ETA ebauche crunch by introducing its own new chronograph movement in 2009: Caliber B01. "We wanted to be in the pilot's seat," explains vice-president of Breitling Jean-Paul Girardin.
Last week, for the first time, Girardin opened the doors to this state-of-the-art facility manufacturing the movement to journalists. At this time, Girardin explained that Breitling was one of the few brands able to retain its entire workforce during the economic crisis of 2009. Though the brand did not hire any new employees during these months, it also did not let any go. And this was in great part thanks to the advent of Caliber B01, Breitling's new in-house automatic chronograph movement.
The production of the movement, as well as the assembly of the ETA 2892 and 7750 calibers still utilized in familiar models, take place in a purpose-built facility christened Breitling Chronometrie. The brand expects to make 50,000 pieces of Caliber B01 this year—which should come as no surprise when you've heard that the new movement was the brand's immediate bestseller upon introduction last year.
Caliber B01 was designed in the space of five years by a five-man-b team in Geneva making up Breitling Technology; at the same time Breitling set up its Chronometrie in La Chaux-de-Fonds to handle manufacturing and assembly. A number of Caliber B01's 346 components are supplied—like the reliable Nivarox escapement that keeps its time. But a number are also manufactured right on-premises by state-of-the art machinery that is to a great degree automated. The efficient assembly process is more automated than one generally sees in mechanical watches, right down to the oiling procedure and the laser attachment of the balance spring to its collet. A well thought-out laboratory tests not only the assembled movements, but also analyzes potential assembly or C.O.S.C. problems in advance and even performs research into use of new materials and lubrication. A separate room contains its own five-axis CNC machinery, automatic lathes, and wire spark erosion machine for quick prototyping. And true to its flight path, Breitling even employs eleven people alone for quality control—testing every batch of every component.