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.