CONQUERING THE DEPTHS

Available with a black or blue dial, the Superocean 44 Special by Breitling has all you need to explore the ocean depths with peace of mind.

To qualify as a diver’s watch, a timepiece must have some specific features. It has to be water-resistant down to 100m, include a power reserve indicator and be shock-resistant… While Breitling has strong links to aeronautics, the company also has the expertise to supply watches for underwater explorers by producing models with all the features divers need, such as the new Superocean 44 Special. It meets the challenges of the sea depths with water-resistance down to 1000 metres. On a 44mm-wide steel case with a satiny finish, the rotating bezel made of high-resistance ceramics will guarantee that even the most extreme missions are a success. The bezel is unidirectional, preventing any unwanted prolongation of diving time.

The Superocean 44 Special is powered by a self-winding calibre that has been certified as a chronometer by the Contrôle Officiel Suisse des Chronomètres (COSC), a guarantee of precision. A range of straps are available, with Ocean Racer and Diver Pro rubber straps, or a metal Professional strap, designed to suit divers’ preferences.

Price: €3,710 (rubber strap) – €4,160 (steel strap)

By Dan Diaconu

AUTOMATIC PILOT MODE 

Breitling’s great classic is now available in a limited edition of 1000 pieces blending a deep black and copper-ivory tone.

The brand based in Granges in the German-speaking canton of Soleure in north-western Switzerland, and a major specialist in technical watches, has issued a new version of its Navitimer 01. A reliable and efficient instrument enjoying a solid reputation for over 60 years, Breitling’s flagship model is a must-have for pilots and anyone who loves flying. The new Navitimer 01 Limited Edition chronograph, available in 1000 pieces, renews with the aesthetic and technical codes that have brought success to its predecessors, especially the famous circular aviation slide rule adorning the dial.

The solid steel case is 46mm in diameter and features a rotating notched bezel. It houses the Breitling 01 calibre, an automatic winding mechanical movement, certified as a chronometer by the COSC, the Official Swiss Chronometer Testing Institute, like all the movements made by the firm from Granges. It has a power reserve of 70 hours and drives the hour, calendar and chronograph functions.

The wide chapter ring is strongly angled and hosts the famous slide rule, coloured white on a dark brown background with touches of red, which pilots find so indispensible. It encircles a black face where the markings on the chapter ring are extended. These markings are completed by an hour rim with markers topped by luminescent squares and a precise minute track. At the centre, a set of gilded hands coated with phosphorescent material display the hours and minutes, while the seconds are shown in a counter at 9 o’clock. The date is displayed in white on a black background at 4.30. As for the chronograph function, the seconds run at the centre, while the minutes and hours are shown in two counters placed at 3 and 6 o’clock respectively. These three counters are set back, lightened and tinted dark brown, like the chapter ring.

This Navitimer 01 Limited Edition is available with a leather, crocodile or black rubber strap or a steel strap with seven rows of links.

Price: 8050 CHF (with leather strap)

By Sharmila Bertin

MISSION ACCOMPLISHED

Breitling’s Emergency Night Mission has a vibrant new look and is all about safety. The watch is designed to withstand any thrills and spills that thrill seekers and professionals want to throw at it.

Breitling specialises in chronograph wristwatches and is the ultimate aeronautics partner. The founder Léon Breitling set out to design watches for sports and industry in 1884. The Swiss brand has stayed true to its founder’s vision and is always innovating with ever more powerful models. Breitling designed the very first chronograph with a separate pusher in 1915. It was a revolution at the time. A second reset pusher was added in 1934 and sounded the death knell for the first modern chronograph. Breitling also equipped plane cockpits with on-board chronographs and the Royal Air Force used them for its fighter aircrafts in World War II.

The Breitling Emergency Night Mission is best-known for its built-in distress signal and has unveiled a new vibrant look. Its oversize 51mm titanium case comes in orange, blue or yellow making it ideal for city slickers and adventure seekers alike. The strong but light watch is waterproof to depths of 50m. The black carbon blend gives it classic flair. Its satin finishes and colourful rubber strap ooze urban chic. The hands and markers matching the strap colour create a vibrant contrast with the black case and dial.

The Emergency Night Mission by Breitling ranks as a PLB (Personal Locator Beacon) with a built-in twin frequency signal in line with international Cospas-Sarsat satellite requirements. It sends the signal and guides search and rescue operations. The watch is designed as a professional tool and has a COSC-certified multi-function electronic Breitling SuperQuartz chronograph movement that’s ten times as accurate as regular quartz. It has been tested and approved by the best patrols on the planet and has helped successfully complete several missions and saved countless lives. This watch doesn’t need to prove itself.

Price: 18,060 CHF

By Inès Aloui

Breitling’s icon turns blue for the happy few

The watch brand specialising in pilot’s watches has brought out a bright blue limited edition of its famous timepiece.

Aurora may sound poetic but it’s actually inspired by a stealth reconnaissance plane produced by the US in the 1980s. Now you know, it makes total sense since Breitling is the contemporary pilot watch specialist due in part to the aviation slide rule around its models. The inspiration has created a blue that’s somewhere between midnight and petrol on the dial of the new Navitimer GMT Aurora Blue by the Granges-based brand (in the Swiss Soleure canton).

There are just 1000 of the chunky limited edition chronograph available making it even more precious to the brand’s fans. Its sporty version comes with a tone-on-tone blue rubber strap whose grooves bring to mind a plane’s landing gear.

There’s a quartet of hands in the centre of the blue dial framed by an ivory chapter ring: wide, silver and luminescent for local time and minutes; metallic and red-tipped for 24-hour local time; all red for the chronograph seconds. The current seconds tick down in one of three hollowed blue counters at 9 whilst the chronograph counters lie at 3 and 6 (minutes and hours respectively). The low-key date appears in a white-on-blue display at 4.30.

The 48mm steel case is topped by a rotating bezel and houses the in-house self-winding Breitling B04 calibre. The powerful high-frequency movement is COSC-certified and fuels both the aforementioned functions and the 70-hour power reserve.

Price: 8,450 CHF (blue rubber strap)

By Sharmila Bertin

Introducing the Breitling Chronoliner Blacksteel

Not so long ago we unveiled a rather classic version of the Breitling Chronoliner adorned with dashes of rose gold. Here’s a sportier and edgier take on the triple time zone chronograph: the Chronoliner Blacksteel, a model that blends steel and ceramic.

A highly resistant carbon-based coating covers the large 46mm steel case. The watch has a bidirectional black ceramic bezel engraved with a 24-hour scale for the third time zone and houses the COSC-certified self-winding Breitling 24 calibre.

The black dial features three all-black counters (small seconds at 9, chronograph minutes at 12 and hours at 6) and hands whilst all the markers in figures (minute track, 24-hour scale for the second time zone, date at 3) stand out in white or white-rimmed silver.

Price: 7,470 CHF

By Sharmila Bertin

Introducing the Breitling Chronoliner

The new Chronoliner by Breitling is a limited edition (250 available worldwide) that’s much more than a watch. It’s a timekeeping gadget for pilots and globetrotters with three time zones so you’ll feel at home no matter where in the world you are!

Its large 46mm rose gold case houses the self-winding and COSC-certified Breitling 24 movement. Not only does it fuel a 42-hour power reserve but also the time, chronograph, date and triple time zone functions.

The second time zone lies in the centre of the black dial with a red-tipped gold hand and 24-hour scale whilst the third appears on the black ceramic rotating bezel. The hours and minutes tick by in the centre, the date stands at 3 while three sunken counters display the small seconds (at 9) and chronograph minute and hour counters (at 12 and 6).

Price: 23,700 CHF

By Sharmila Bertin

Introducing the Breitling Navitimer 46 Blacksteel

“Blacksteel” is what Breitling calls the black carbon-coated steel which some of its cases are made of, including the new Navitimer 46 Blacksteel. The model has grown to 46mm whilst its dial has been streamlined from three counters to two. But Navitimer fans need not fret: the rotating bezel still has the circular calculation scale essential to air travel.

The hour and minute hands lie in the centre of the dial whilst the seconds count down at 9. A red central seconds hand tracks the chronograph seconds, the minute counter appears at 3 and the date display at 6.

Price: 9,060 CHF

By Sharmila Bertin

Introducing the Breitling Avenger II Seawolf Blacksteel

Serious divers need something that’s seriously waterproof so reach depths of up to 3000m, you can’t say the Avenger II Seawolf Blacksteel is lacking in the water-resistance department! This limited edition (1000 available) by Breitling enables you to explore the deep sea depths (if you’re brave enough to dive so deep) or simply wear a beautiful watch.

The first thing to grab your attention is the Cobra yellow glowing on the dial. The sharks are going to be impressed! Large luminescent hour markers pepper a slim minute track. A pair of grey hour and minute hands burst from the centre alongside a red diamond-tipped central seconds hand whilst the date display lies at 3.

The black carbon-coated 45mm steel case houses the self-winding COSC-certified Breitling 17 calibre that provides a 40-hour power reserve.

Price: 4,570 CHF

By Sharmila Bertin

Introducing the Breitling Galactic 29

The watch brand Breitling is bringing its female clientele a model that’s classic yet reliable, water-resistant to 100m and has something for everyone with a choice of metals and dials: Galactic 29.

The Galactic 29’s functions are brought to life by the COSC-certified SuperQuartz^TM Breitling 72 movement. A display tells the wearer when the battery is reaching the end of its life.

From 3,160 CHF

By Sharmila Bertin

This new Avenger Bandit is inspired by the grey hue and agile yet solid character of aircraft carriers, the huge warships with an airbase. The 45mm matt brushed titanium case houses a COSC-certified self-winding movement fuelling the time, chronograph and date functions alongside the 42-hour power reserve. The blue grey dial features aeronautic-style Arabic hour numerals reflected by the numbers engraved on the rotating bezel. The hours and minutes appear in the centre whilst the seconds count down at 9 o’ clock. The chronograph counters are laid out symmetrically: hours at 6 and minutes at 12. All the chronometer features (central seconds tip, graduations and markers on the counters) are splashed with scarlet. Price: 5,860 CHF. Sharmila Bertin