Breitling - Bentley Supersports
A vibrantly colourful limited series
Breitling lines up on the starting grid a 3 x 1,000-piece limited series of the Bentley Supersports chronograph, with a "dashboard-style" dial enlivened by blue, orange or white-ringed counters and inner bezels. Clearly built for outstanding feats and performances, this exceptional watch is a fresh tribute to the Bentley Continental Supersports, the fastest and most powerful car ever made by the British manufacturer, and holder of the world ice speed record. A superchronograph for a supercar.
Exceptional motorisation
Inside its sporty, sturdy and elegant chassis, the Bentley Supersports limited series houses a selfwinding chronograph movement chronometer-certified by the COSC (Swiss Official Chronometer Testing Institute). It is equipped with an original and extremely practical central-hand 60-minute counter. The rotating bezel serving to activate the variable tachometer - an exclusive Breitling feature enabling measurement of average speed whatever the time elapsed, the distance covered or the speed reached - is adorned with the knurled motif typical of Bentley dashboard controls.
Breitling - Watches and Emotions
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.
Breitling - Navitimer Caliber 01 Limited Edition
Breitling launches the first Navitimer with a 100% in-house made chronograph movement
Breitling combines its two long-established passions - chronographs and aeronautics - by offering the legendary Navitimer model in a limited series equipped with its proprietary Caliber 01. Issued in 2,000-piece steel and 200-piece red gold editions, the "Navitimer Caliber 01" is distinguished by its slightly broader diameter and its transparent caseback providing clear views of its high-performance "motor". An eagerly anticipated model among devotees of the brand with the winged B, and a genuine collector's item for all connoisseurs of fine mechanical chronographs and aviation.
In 2009, Breitling laid a major milestone in its history by joining the exclusive circle of the rare watch companies to have their own mechanical chronograph movement. This was a logical culminating point for a brand that is one of the leaders in this complication and has played a crucial role in its technical development through several key inventions: the first independent pushpiece (1915); separation of the stop/start and reset functions (1923); creation of the second independent pushpiece for zero-resetting (1934); and the launch of the very first selfwinding chronograph (1969). Caliber 01, the first movement entirely developed and produced in the Breitling workshops, was first used to power an exclusive new version of the leading Chronomat model, duly named Chronomat 01. Breitling now introduces it within another watchmaking icon, the famous Navitimer which proudly embodies the brand's aeronautical vocation.
Breitling Caliber 01: a high-performance movement assembled in a revolutionary manner
Featuring an original architecture, the selfwinding Caliber 01 chronograph movement is the crowning achievement of the longstanding quest for precision and reliability that has consistently governed Breitling "Instruments for professionals". Equipped with a column wheel, a vertical coupling clutch and an over 70-hour power reserve, it was designed to ensure maximum functionality and secure use. It features several innovative characteristics aimed at facilitating its production and its operation, including a patented self-centering device for the resetting hammers and an exclusive index-assembly system enabling swift personalized adjustment of the watch according to the wearer. This exceptional caliber is also distinguished by its pioneering production and assembly mode. Inspired by an avant-garde concept used in other cutting-edge sectors, Breitling has developed an industrial chain-production formula that revolutionizes traditional movement assembly. Each caliber is individually monitored by an ultra sophisticated computer program that automatically directs it towards the appropriate workstation, along a route alternating fully automated workstations with others requiring manual intervention. All the adjustment phases are integrated within this process, in such a way that upon emerging from the chain, each Caliber 01 is ready to face up to the stringent tests conducted by the Swiss Official Chronometer Testing Institute (COSC) - a guarantee of authentic large-scale production reliability.
Navitimer: the cult watch of pilots and aviation enthusiasts By immediately choosing to specialize in chronographs and timers, Leon Breitling, who founded the company in 1884, soon gained favor among aviation pioneers who needed sturdy, high performance instruments. During the 1930s, the brand launched its first onboard chronographs, which were to equip World War II fighter planes, before accompanying the boom in air transport in the cockpits of the finest propeller planes, and later jets. In 1952, the "official supplier to world aviation" created a "wrist instrument" specially designed for pilots and other aeronautical professionals. Equipped with a circular slide rule, the Navitimer chronograph serves to handle all calculations linked to airborne navigation: average speed, distance covered, fuel consumption, rate of climb or descent, conversions from miles to kilometers or nautical miles, etc. Chosen as the official watch by the AOPA (Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association), the world's largest association of its kind, the Navitimer has asserted itself as the most iconic Breitling model - and a cult object for all aviation enthusiasts. In its "Cosmonaute" version with a 24-hour graduation, it accompanied Scott Carpenter on his orbital flight aboard the Aurora 7 capsule (1962), thus becoming the first space going wrist chronograph. Continuously made since 1952, the Navitimer is the world's oldest mechanical chronograph still in production. By now adopting an "in-house" caliber, it is writing a new chapter in a rich history of major achievements and thrilling moments.
Navitimer Caliber 01: an exclusive motor powering a legendary modelThe Navitimer Caliber 01 special edition is available in two limited series of 2,000 in steel, and 200 in red gold, each bearing an individual number engraved on the side of the case middle. The case features a diameter slightly broader than that of the series produced Navitimer (43 mm compared with 42 mm). The dial which is made using the "epargne" process on a solid silver or gold base - a sophisticated technique endowing the indications with peerless radiance and readability - is exclusively available in a classic black version with applied hour-markers. Breitling's winged symbol in gold is slightly raised to stand out from the watch face. The transparent sapphire caseback, a rare feature on Breitling models, provides a unique opportunity to admire the original architecture of Caliber 01 with its column wheel, its oscillating weight and its entirely performance oriented design. An impressive set of characteristics that are bound to delight devotees of exclusive models - before the series-produced Navitimer models equipped with 100% Breitling calibers take flight next spring.
Breitling - Chronomat B01 iPhone application
Using the specific features of the iPhone 3.0 version, Breitling offers the Chronomat B01 application for iPhone and iPod touch, designed to provide a functional and detailed presentation of its latest chronograph.
A precise description, technical data, a portfolio, a video and 360° views give an extremely clear idea of the exceptional nature of the new Chronomat B01.
The application is also equipped with a unique configurator serving to visualize hundreds of possible customized versions of the model.
The point-of-sale location-tracking system enables all devotees of mechanical chronographs to locate the nearest authorized Breitling retailers.