Breitling Archives - Revolution Watch

Victoria Beckham designs her first watch with Breitling

Katherine Arteche — Thu, 01 Feb 2024 13:00:51 +0000

Victoria Beckham designs her first watch with Breitling

The Chronomat Automatic 36 collection, limited to just 1,500 pieces, is the outcome of a unique partnership between Breitling and the fashion mogul.

News

By Katherine Arteche

Feb 1, 2024

When people hear the name “Victoria Beckham,” the top two most popular points that often come to mind are, one, that she will forever be known as a Spice Girl, and two, she made being a WAG cool. But those days are long gone, and nowadays, she’s that famous fashion designer now. Having founded her eponymous fashion label in 2008, Beckham has produced high-end fashion looks, including dresses, ready-to-wear collections, footwear, eyewear, and leather goods.

Yet it’s not the first time the designer has lent her creative head to things outside of the runway. In 2012, Beckham was part of the design team in creating an exclusive Range Rover Evoque. Call it whatever you want but I fell for it — a sleek matte-gray exterior and shiny black accents … it was absolutely posh.

Breitling debuts new Chronomat Automatic 36 models in collaboration with Victoria Beckham

Now, the celebrated fashion designer is lending her signature style to a limited-edition timepiece in collaboration with Breitling, presenting the Chronomat Automatic 36 Victoria Beckham edition.

Breitling CEO Georges Kern describes the collection as a “modern, radiant expression” of the classic Chronomat, already a versatile timepiece with a classic form. Beckham, in turn, admires the fusion of Breitling’s craftsmanship and innovation with her ideas, creating something “elegant and fresh.”

Breitling function meets Beckham design

The collection retains the quintessential features of the Chronomat, such as the metal rouleaux bracelet and raised rider tabs at the 15-minute mark, but it introduces refined colorways inspired by Beckham’s own Spring/Summer 2024 palette, including peppermint, midnight blue, dove gray, and sand.

Breitling Chronomat Automatic 36 Victoria Beckham in steel with dove gray dial featuring lab-grown diamond hour markers

The cases are available in stainless steel or yellow gold – a material specially revived by Breitling for this collaboration. The dials bear the mark of limitation: “One of 400” for stainless-steel pieces and “One of 100” for gold variations. Look closely, and you’ll find the subtle VB logo and inscription on the bracelet.

Breitling Chronomat Automatic 36 Victoria Beckham in 1steel with midnight blue dial
Breitling Chronomat Automatic 36 Victoria Beckham in 18k yellow gold with peppermint dial

Powered by the Breitling Caliber 10 – COSC-certified – the Chronomat Automatic 36 Victoria Beckham provides a running time of approximately 42 hours off the wrist.

The collection’s stunning campaign shot by Italian fashion photographer Mario Sorrenti

Breitling’s commitment to expanding its women’s watch offerings is evident in this collaboration. The limited-edition Chronomat comes in a specially designed co-branded box, and the gold pieces are accompanied by a co-branded travel pouch. The stunning campaign for the collection, shot by renowned photographer Mario Sorrenti, features rising star Annemary Aderibigbe, embodying the essence of both the Breitling and Victoria Beckham woman – a fusion of strength, sophistication, and a touch of the unexpected.

Tech Specs: Breitling Chronomat Automatic 36 Victoria Beckham

Movement: Automatic-winding Breitling caliber 10; 42-hour power reserve
Functions: Hours and minutes; central seconds; date
Case: 36mm; stainless steel/ 18k yellow gold; water-resistant up to 100m
Dial: Midnight blue, peppermint or in exclusive dove gray with lab-grown diamond hour markers (steel version)/ midnight blue, peppermint or sand (yellow gold version)
Strap: Stainless-steel or 18k yellow gold rouleaux bracelet with butterfly clasp
Price: USD5,600 (steel); USD5,950 (steel with diamonds); USD29,500 (yellow gold)
Availability: Limited to 1,500 pieces

Opinion

By Stephen Pulvirent

A Few More Thoughts On Breitling Acquiring Universal Genève

Dec 27, 2023

News

By Oliver R Müller

The Revolution Success Index

Dec 15, 2023

News

By Zen Love

Breitling Acquires Universal Genève: What It Means for Watch Fans

Dec 13, 2023

News

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Nov 1, 2023

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Breitling and Charlize Theron celebrate the release of new Navitimer models in 36 and 32mm

Sep 7, 2023

From the Shop

Furlan Marri

Limited Edition

Furlan Marri x Auro x Revo - Flyback Chronographs 3188-A ‘Salmon Flyback

$3,175.00

TECH SPECS

Movement	Manual winding Sellita caliber AMT5100, with rose gold plating and custom bridge for Furlan Marri; 58-hour power reserve; heated blued steel screws
Functions	Hours, minutes, small seconds and flyback chronograph
Case	38mm (46mm from lug to lug); stainless steel with olive-shaped pushers for Honey Blue flyback, Taupe flyback and Tasti Tondi pushers for Salmon flyback; water resistant to 50m
Dial	Taupe, blue, or two-tone salmon and black (Revolution edition); double printed text with pulsations scale, polished applied indexes
Strap	Italian leather with quick release system
Limited Edition	270 pieces per reference + 30 collector boxes (including one of each references) in addition.

The post Victoria Beckham designs her first watch with Breitling appeared first on Revolution Watch.

A Few More Thoughts On Breitling Acquiring Universal Genève

Stephen Pulvirent — Wed, 27 Dec 2023 09:00:00 +0000

A Few More Thoughts On Breitling Acquiring Universal Genève

Here’s what we’re expecting from this overdue revival.

Opinion

By Stephen Pulvirent

Dec 27, 2023

At the time I’m writing this, it’s been just over a week since Breitling announced that it acquired the beloved but essentially defunct brand Universal Genève. Zen covered the news here on Revolution and I shared some first thoughts over on Instagram. But in a media environment in which we’re always on to the next story, the initial buzz over UG’s new circumstance hasn’t died down much at all.

Given the importance of Universal Genève in the collecting community, across all experience levels and budgets, I’m not really that surprised. This was a long time in the making and something that people aren’t taking lightly. So, with that in mind, I thought the topic warranted some further reflection, a bit more digging, and help from a few friends.

This one’s personal

There’s no way around it: I probably wouldn’t be writing this today if it weren’t for Universal Genève. A UG Polerouter was my first vintage watch, one of the first stories I ever wrote about watches was about an auction that prominently featured some famous Universals, and my early journey into the online watch community was largely focused on finding the right UG for me. In a funny way, I have this at-the-time-defunt watch brand to thank for quite a lot in life.

But what I went through, circa 2011/2012, wasn’t particularly unusual. Universal served as a gateway into real watch nerdery for many people at that time. The watches were complicated, but not too complicated; they could get kind of rare and pricey, but neither too rare nor too pricey; there was a ton of history, but still a lot to be discovered and understood. Add the influence of the blog culture, the start of social media, and vintage dealers moving online, and it’s not at all shocking that Universal Genève became the phenomenon it did amongst those in the know. It was kind of a perfect storm.

One of the things that connected with me most was the passion shown by other, much more experienced collectors. That sort of “co-sign” means a lot and was a huge part of Universal’s surge in popularity. Take for example legendary collector and scholar Auro Montanari. “Universal Genève was one of my first horological loves when I started collecting vintage watches at the end of the 1970s,” he said when asked about UG. “I still have a few rare examples in my collection.”

And I still have that original Polerouter, by the way. And the watch looks every bit as great today as it did when I first purchased it, and it still puts a smile on my face every time I wear it. It’s a watch that, for me, embodies the best of what the global watch community can be.

Smoke but no fire

Universal Genève was, since 1989, owned by a Hong Kong–based holding company called Stelux, which would make watches under the famous moniker from time-to-time, but not in any serious, concentrated way. The brand was, for all intents and purposes, defunct for most of the 1990s and early 2000s. With all the excitement around the brand, people looking for a good business opportunity took interest. The vintage-style watch trend was hitting its peak around this time too, so the idea of reviving Universal and creating new versions of favorites like the Aero-Compax and Polerouter made a ton of sense.

Throughout the 2010s, rumors would circulate every few years about one of the big watch conglomerates or a group of wealthy collectors trying to acquire the brand and bring it back to life. Everyone would get excited, talk about what they wanted to see from the “new UG,” and then the trail would go cold. Nothing ever came of these rumors – it seemed that Stelux was not interested in selling and the lights would stay off at UG forever.

Enter Breitling

All of this backstory is what makes last week’s seemingly out-of-the-blue announcement that Breitling acquired Universal Genève so shocking. I certainly wasn’t expecting it. Details are obviously still pretty scant, but Breitling CEO Georges Kern has said that UG will have its own dedicated team (it won’t just be a department at Breitling), the watches will be “much more expensive” than Breitling’s, and that we might see the first new UG watches as early as 2026.

Georges Kern

Let’s unpack this a bit. The brand being built out into a proper company isn’t a huge surprise. Breitling wouldn’t make a move like this to essentially create a sub-brand and the potential for something like Universal is much bigger than that anyway. To me, this is a no-brainer and no surprise at all.

Then there’s the matter of pricing and market segment. Breitling essentially had two options here: Do what they’re doing and make Universal Genève a premium brand, operating in at least the $15,000+ price category (if not higher), or go the other route and make Universal Genève an accessible entry point into premium watches for a particular kind of buyer. The former is really seductive – We’d all love some awesome, sub-$5k watches that pay homage to historic pieces we love. But do we really need more of that? And how good is a $3,250 Tri-Compax calendar chronograph actually going to be? Not that they need my sign-on, but I think Breitling took the bigger, smarter swing here. The potential for watches that are actually interesting, high-quality, and market-rattling is much higher down this path.

And, finally, for anyone who has worked in or with the watch industry in any capacity, that 2026 number sounds mighty impressive. Sure, that could mean we get shown prototypes three years from now, with deliveries another year after that, but even that is relatively quick in the world we’re talking about here. Anything shorter than that is extremely impressive, especially given the price point and quality level Breitling is hinting at. We’ll see if that timeline comes to pass, but even saying that number shows that Breitling means business.

The vintage perspective

One other wrinkle to the situation is what this all means for the vintage Universal Genève market. My instinct was that this could only be a good thing, but I decided to pressure test that idea. “I think [the Breitling acquisition] will bring additional awareness to Universal Genève and that vintage examples will increase in both price point and popularity,” says Cameron Barr, the founder and CEO of LA-based vintage watch dealer Crafted & Tailored. “I think it’s a truly captivating and exciting time when a major brand breathes new life into a dormant brand, and especially one with such a rich history spanning both horology and popular culture.”

But that incredible history is also part of what makes this such a big deal and what has some people feeling a bit of nervousness along with their excitement. “What makes UG special to date, and what gives it the special magnetism it has, is the fact that it was a defunct brand,” says New Jersey–based collector Matthew Fisher (@dandywatchman on Instagram). “UG has been ‘owned’ by the die-hard enthusiasts like myself for the last 20+ years…I hope they [Breitling] give the right people a seat at the table, work with them, and respect them…my biggest hope at this point is that they don’t ‘F this up.’” To me, this is one of the great variables in this equation: How much will Breitling engage directly with the vintage community that made this brand worth reviving in the first place? It’s a really interesting question and one that we don’t have an answer for just yet. But it’s definitely something to watch between now and when the first new UGs launch in a few years.

Some other thoughts

Like I said at the beginning, this one’s personal for me. And, ultimately, I find myself in a sort of weird place: I’m excited about the news and am finding it hard to be even a little bit cynical about it. A big brand, with real money and real resources, has taken interest in a defunct brand I care about and wants to revive it so they can make high-end watches inspired by, but not directly reproducing, the best pieces from the archive. That’s pretty tough to argue with, especially given what we’ve seen from Breitling over the last few years.

Luckily, I’m not the only one who thinks this. Again, from Auro Montanari: “Georges Kern will do a great job revamping the old sleeping brand. He is perfect for reading the Universal historical archive and working on it,” he says. “Collectors have kept the interest in Universal Genève alive over the years, sharing research, scholarship, and enthusiasm for the vintage brand, and this great community will certainly have very high expectations for the launch of new Universal watches.”

And what happens if it doesn’t work out? We’re not worse off than we were two weeks ago. Remember, before this news hit my inbox, I assumed UG was going to be the permanent property of a holding company in perpetuity. From an enthusiast’s standpoint, it feels like a no-lose, all-upside scenario. All the responsibility and onus is on Breitling to make this great – and so far I haven’t seen anything that would lead me to believe they won’t.

Reference

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FROM THE SHOP

Furlan Marri

Limited Edition

Furlan Marri x Auro x Revo - Flyback Chronographs 3199-A ‘Honey Blue Flyback’

$3,175.00

TECH SPECS

Movement	Manual winding Sellita caliber AMT5100, with rose gold plating and custom bridge for Furlan Marri; 58-hour power reserve; heated blued steel screws
Functions	Hours, minutes, small seconds and flyback chronograph
Case	38mm (46mm from lug to lug); stainless steel with olive-shaped pushers for Honey Blue flyback, Taupe flyback and Tasti Tondi pushers for Salmon flyback; water resistant to 50m
Dial	Taupe, blue, or two-tone salmon and black (Revolution edition); double printed text with pulsations scale, polished applied indexes
Strap	Italian leather with quick release system
Limited Edition	270 pieces per reference + 30 collector boxes (including one of each references) in addition.

The post A Few More Thoughts On Breitling Acquiring Universal Genève appeared first on Revolution Watch.

Breitling Acquires Universal Genève: What It Means for Watch Fans

Zen Love — Tue, 12 Dec 2023 18:03:12 +0000

Breitling Acquires Universal Genève: What It Means for Watch Fans

It’s one of the most anticipated returns in all of watchmaking. The storied brand Universal Genève looks set for a worthy comeback, but you’ll have to wait for their first watches.

News

By Zen Love

Dec 13, 2023

Polerouter. Nina Rindt. Variants of “Compax.” In the world of vintage watches these names have serious weight, as does the watchmaker behind them, Universal Genève. But the celebrated company has been all but lost to watchmaking for decades, until now.

It’s some of the biggest news watch fans could have hoped for: Universal Genève has been acquired by the same company (Partners Group) that controls Breitling. Indeed, many have hoped for such a comeback of the beloved brand and talked about it for a long time. And now, this storied brand is finally being resurrected. Here’s what it actually means for enthusiasts.

Why Universal Genève’s vintage watches are so celebrated

Just as in modern watches and many other pursuits, hype is a force in vintage watches. Certain models such as the Polerouter are particularly well known, but the brand Universal Genève itself is something like a darling among collectors. Why? And why is the brand’s resurrection such a big deal?

The hype doesn’t come from nowhere, of course. Universal Genève is known first for its high-quality chronographs and later for its micro-rotor movements. The Compax series of watches began in the 1930s and models from the ‘40s such as the Tri-Compax were recognized in their time but have become legendary in retrospect.

Such watches have been valued by collectors deep in the game, but a simpler model has in recent years catapulted the brand into much wider recognition. That would be the Polerouter. It was an early design by Gerald Genta who would later have massive influence on the industry by creating an entire category now called “luxury sport watches” (among other appellations) with the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak and Patek Philippe Nautilus.

The Polerouter’s story has been told many times, but it incorporated a thin micro-rotor movement and was created to commemorate Scandanavian Airlines Systems polar flights from New York/Los Angeles directly to Europe in 1954. The celebrity (Genta) association along with its backstory and technical interest (in-house micro-rotor movement) and relatively approachable price made it exciting to vintage collectors. Ironically, it’s no longer as much of a value play as it once was, but its pumped-up status has endured.

There are yet more reasons collectors love Universal Genève. Many will point out that by the 1940s it was distributed by the same company to sell Patek Philippe in the United States, and a little Patek stardust never hurt anyone. To many, Universal Genève in its heyday was a peer of Rolex and Patek Philippe and today is viewed as a prime representative of the so-called “golden age” of 20th century watchmaking.

It’s tough to definitively say why a watch brand or model is popular, but the above factors certainly play a role.

So what happened to Universal Genève?

Simply put, Universal Genève was a casualty of the so-called “Quartz Crisis” when battery-powered technology uprooted the traditional (mechanical) watchmaking industry and spelled the demise of many a brand that couldn’t adapt. The full story, however, is less simple, as Universal Genève never technically or completely died. Read more about Universal Genève’s history here.

Since around the 1970s, however, it’s existed largely in name only and little like Universal Genève as it’s fondly remembered. It tried to survive on quartz technology for a time, and the rights to its name and intellectual property changed hands more than once. There have been attempts to relaunch the brand and many more to purchase the rights to it.

Just as collectors have their “grail watches,” Universal Genève itself has long been something like a “grail” for entrepreneurs and corporations who would revive it. Until Breitling’s acquisition for an undisclosed sum, it was owned by Hong Kong-based Stelux Group since 1989. It’s a challenge for Breitling, but there’s every reason to believe that it’s well positioned to give Universal Genève worthy return.

What Breitling’s current approach tells us about Universal Genève’s future direction

What we know about Breitling can be extrapolated to some degree to look ahead at Universal Genève’s revival. Breitling CEO Georges Kernes explains that “a dedicated team will be brought on board to allow Breitling and Universal Genève to operate as separate maisons.” So while it’s not clear whether or not Kernes himself will be leading the company, we feel a similar approach to what he’s done with Breitling in recent years can be expected.

Specifically, he’s pushed out in-house movements and followed industry trends with smaller diameters, vintage reissues and generally retro inspiration. It’s been successful. Referring to “the profound heritage we are set to uphold,” updated models of Universal Genève’s most popular models seem likely, but there’s also a lot for a contemporary brand to play with. Breitling and its parent company might invest in in-house movements, perhaps with shared technology and/or production.

When brands exist within a corporate group, though, there’s the matter of positioning. We would expect for Universal Geneve to be positioned as a higher-end counterpart to Breitling’s luxury tool watches.

There will be new Universal Genève watches, eventually

All this is exciting, but watch fans will need to tamper their enthusiasm as we won’t be seeing new Universal Genève watches quite yet. So far, the acquisition has only been announced, and there’s no timeline or much detail on how the brand’s future will unfold. In its press release, Breitling describes the future of Universal Genève as “rebuilding” and it says it is “not a quick endeavor—it is a meticulous labor of love that we anticipate will unfold over the coming years.” Bringing such a storied brand back in the way that enthusiasts crave is a challenge, indeed, but the potential seems genuinely huge.

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Reference

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FEATURED FROM SHOP

Parmigiani Fleurier

Limited Edition

Parmigiani Fleurier Tonda PF Micro-Rotor "Purple Reign" x Revolution

$26,400.00

TECH SPECS

Movement	Self-winding caliber PF703; 48-hour power reserve
Functions	Hours, Minutes, Date
Case	40mm; polished and satin-finished stainless steel with platinum knurled bezel; water resistant to 100m
Dial	Purple; rhodium-plated applied hour markers
Strap	Polished and satin-finished stainless steel bracelet
Limited Edition	Limited and numbered edition of 50 pieces

The post Breitling Acquires Universal Genève: What It Means for Watch Fans appeared first on Revolution Watch.

Breitling presents its redesigned Avenger collection

Revolution — Wed, 01 Nov 2023 13:00:01 +0000

Breitling presents its redesigned Avenger collection

The new Avenger collection pairs all the performance with sophisticated modern aviation style.

News

By Revolution

Nov 1, 2023

Breitling‘s enduring legacy in the world of aviation is a testament to the brand’s deep-rooted connection with flying. With legendary timepieces such as the Navitimer, Emergency, and in today’s significance, the Avenger, such have made Breitling a frontrunner in the aviation watch segment.

A new Breitling Avenger collection

The latest iteration of the Avenger collection exemplifies Breitling’s commitment to innovation and style while catering to the demands of the skies. Three distinct models are introduced, each designed with acute attention to detail.

The Avenger chronograph models are powered by the highly sophisticated and robust COSC-certified Breitling Manufacture Caliber 01. It is a column wheel-controlled and vertical clutch chronograph that offers approximately 70 hours of power reserve.

Breitling Avenger B01 Chronograph 44 with a sand-colored dial and black contrasting totalizers
Breitling Avenger B01 Chronograph 44 with a black tone-on-tone dial and totalizers

These watches boast colored dials (blue, green, black, or sand-colored), an easy-to-read 60-minute bezel, and baton indexes for enhanced legibility. New square pushers, designed for smoother timekeeping operations, and a distinctive grip pattern on the crown and bezel set these models apart.

Breitling Avenger B01 Chronograph 44 Night Mission is made in two variations: a full black, and yellow with contrasting black accents

For a bolder look, the Avenger Night Mission chronograph is designed with a case and bezel crafted entirely from scratch-resistant ceramic and is offered in two polarizing variations: one outfitted in a stealthy all-black resilient carbon fiber dial, while the other sports Breitling’s signature yellow along with contrasting black totalizers.

The caseback, crown, pushers, and buckle are made from titanium, offering durability without added weight.

Breitling Avenger Automatic GMT 44 in a blue dial

The 44mm Avenger Automatic GMT, designed for both pilots and frequent flyers, features a red GMT hand for Zulu time on a 24-hour bezel and is driven by the COSC-certified Caliber 32 with a 42-hour power reserve. The Avenger Automatic in a trim 42mm steel case is a time-only version that offers all the robustness of its larger counterparts in a more compact profile.

An Avenger campaign featuring the Swiss elite

While these watches embody Breitling’s aviation heritage, they are a seamless combination of high functionality and style. Perhaps then there’s no one better to model the Avenger’s fresh designs than the skillful members of the Patrouille Suisse.

Breitling Avenger B01 Chronograph 44 Night Mission in black

Comprising elite pilots from the Swiss Air Force, the faces of the new Avenger campaign feature members of the premier aerobatic display team, renowned for its exceptional flying abilities and captivating aerial performances. These feats demand exceptional spatial awareness and expert control over their aircraft.

Breitling Avenger B01 Chronograph 44 in the sand-colored model
Breitling Avenger B01 Chronograph 44 with a blue dial

“The Avenger was created to stand up to the relentless conditions of a jet cockpit and to support pilots in demanding aerial maneuvers,” said Breitling CEO Georges Kern in a statement.

Breitling Avenger Automatic 42 in green

All options are available with either a military leather strap featuring a folding pin buckle or a three-row stainless-steel bracelet with a micro-adjustable folding clasp. Whether or not you can perform a stunt of your own, the collection pairs performance with a sophisticated modern aviation style.

Tech Specs: Breitling Avenger B01 Chronograph 44

Movement: Automatic-winding Breitling Manufacture Caliber 01; 70-hour power reserve
Functions: Hours and minutes; Subsidiary seconds; Chronograph; Date; 30-minute and 12-hour totalizers
Case: 44mm; Stainless steel; Water-resistant up to 300m
Dial: Black (tone-on-tone); Blue/Green/Sand-colored (with black contrasting chronograph counters); Super-Luminova® luminescent indexes and hands
Strap: Black/Blue/Green/Sand-colored military leather (folding pin buckle with folding clasp); Stainless steel bracelet

Tech Specs: Breitling Avenger B01 Chronograph 44 Night Mission

Movement: Automatic-winding Breitling Manufacture Caliber 01; 70-hour power reserve
Functions: Hours and minutes; Subsidiary seconds; Chronograph; 30-minute and 12-hour totalizers
Case: 44mm; Black ceramic; Water-resistant up to 300m
Dial: Black (tone-on-tone); Yellow (with black contrasting chronograph counters); Super-Luminova® luminescent indexes, numerals, and hands
Strap: Black/Yellow military leather; Titanium folding pin buckle

Tech Specs: Breitling Avenger Automatic GMT 44

Movement: Automatic-winding Breitling Caliber 32; 42-hour power reserve
Functions: Hours and minutes; Seconds; Date; Second time zone
Case: 44mm; Stainless steel; Water-resistant up to 300m
Dial: Black/Blue; Super-Luminova® luminescent indexes and hands
Strap: Black/Blue military leather with folding pin buckle; Stainless steel bracelet with folding clasp

Tech Specs: Breitling Avenger Automatic 42

Movement: Automatic-winding Breitling Caliber 17; 38-hour power reserve
Functions: Hours and minutes; Seconds; Date
Case: 42mm; Stainless steel; Water-resistant up to 300m
Dial: Black/Blue/Green; Super-Luminova® luminescent indexes and hands
Strap: Black/Blue/Green military leather with folding pin buckle; Stainless steel bracelet with folding clasp

Reference

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Sold Out

Angelus

ANGELUS x REVOLUTION CHRONODATE "ANGELS' SHARE"

$23,800.00

TECH SPECS

Movement	Self-winding caliber A-500; 60 hours power reserve
Functions	Hours, minutes, small seconds, chronograph and date
Case	42.5mm; titanium; water resistant to 30m
Dial	Salmon (6N gold plated) with gené or frosted area; Super-LumiNova filled Arabic numerals
Strap	Ballistic gray rubber; titanium folding clasp

The post Breitling presents its redesigned Avenger collection appeared first on Revolution Watch.

Breitling and Charlize Theron celebrate the release of new Navitimer models in 36 and 32mm

Felix Scholz — Thu, 07 Sep 2023 03:00:51 +0000

Breitling and Charlize Theron celebrate the release of new Navitimer models in 36 and 32mm

News

By Felix Scholz

Sep 7, 2023

A jewel-like take on the iconic design

The new Breitling Navitimer 36 and 32mm

Initially created in 1952 as a utilitarian tool for pilots, the Breitling Navitimer has, over the last 70 years, become one of the truly iconic watch designs. It’s also, like all icons, evolved beyond its original mandate into something more. The new Navitimer models in 36 and 32mm are a great example of this.

Breitling Navitimer 32_Ref. A77320D91K1A1

Breitling has just unveiled a swathe of new smaller-sized models made with women’s wrists in mind. To go along with the release, Breitling has enlisted the power of Charlize Theron in a brand new campaign — NAVITIMER – FOR THE JOURNEY — as part of an intimate series told by Breitling’s brand ambassadors in their own words. Theron, the face of the new Navitimer 36 and 32 models, explains, “My journey has been about learning that I’m braver than I think I am,” says Theron. “I don’t want to take a role that doesn’t keep me up at night or leave me sitting in my trailer panicked an hour before I have to go out and perform. That’s the beauty of this path I’m on: the unknown. It’s that one day you get a call that changes your whole life.”

The new Breitling Navitimer Automatic 36

Breitling Navitimer Automatic 36_Ref. A17327361L1P1

Breitling has released five versions of the new Navitimer Automatic 36, three in steel, one bi-metal and one in full gold. Size-wise, we’re obviously talking about a 36mm case, and it sits 11.42mm high on the wrist, and the movement in question is the Breitling Caliber 17, their version of the iconic 2824.

Breitling Navitimer Automatic 36_Ref. A17327361L1P1, Ref. A17327361L1A1

The steel models come in mint green, silver or anthracite options, with a matching strap option or the instantly recognisable seven-link bracelet that is synonymous with the Navitimer.

Breitling Navitimer Automatic 36_Ref. A17327211G1P1, Ref.A17327211G1A1

Breitling Navitimer Automatic 36_Ref. A17327381B1P1, Ref. A17327381B1A1

The two-tone model is (obviously) cased in steel and red gold — it’s offered on leather too, but really, you want this watch on the bi-metal bracelet. The bezel is also in red gold, and the dial is mother-of-pearl with lab-grown diamonds. Finally, the full gold model is cased in 18 k red gold, which is made with traceable gold from Swiss Better Gold Association accredited mines. The dial, like the two-tone, is mother-of-pearl and grown diamonds.

Breitling Navitimer Automatic 36_Ref. U17327211A1P1, Ref.U17327211A1U1

Breitling Navitimer 32_Ref. U77320E61A1U1_RGB

The new Breitling Navitimer Automatic 32

Much like the slightly larger 36, the new Navitimer Automatic 32 offers a stripped-back version of the classic chronograph. Here the slide rule has been omitted, a concession to the petite case dimensions. Additionally, this watch is powered by a quartz calibre. Aside from that, there are plenty of distinguishing Breitling features at play: the coin-edge bezel, the bracelet, the handset. In steel, we’re treated to three new variants, all with mother-of-pearl dials. One is plain white, but the standouts are the soft blue and dusky pink numbers. No matter which color you prefer, lab-grown diamonds will play a part.

Breitling Navitimer 32_Ref. A77320D91K1A1

Breitling Navitimer 32_Ref. A77320D91K1A1, Ref. A77320D91K1P1

Breitling Navitimer 32_Ref. A77320171C1P1, Ref. A77320171C1A1

There are also precious options: a two-tone model with a white dial offered on a bracelet or leather strap, as well as a solid gold number. As with the larger version, all the precious metal is Swiss Better Gold Association accredited.

Breitling Navitimer Automatic 36

Movement: Breitling Caliber 17, automatic

Functions: Hours, minutes, seconds

Case: 36 x 11.42mm, steel

Dial: Mint green, silver or anthracite, White mother-of-pearl with lab-grown diamonds on bi-metal version

Strap: Steel bracelet, steel and gold bracelet (for the bi-metal watch) or color-matched alligator leather

Breitling Navitimer Automatic 36 Origins

Movement: Breitling Caliber 17, automatic

Functions: Hours, minutes, seconds

Case: 36 x 11.42mm, red gold made with traceable gold from Swiss Better Gold Association accredited mines

Dial: White mother-of-pearl with lab-grown diamonds

Strap: 18 k red gold bracelet or brown alligator leather

Breitling Navitimer 32

Movement: Breitling Caliber 77, quartz

Functions: Hours, minutes, seconds

Case: 32 x 8mm, stainless steel, one version in steel and red gold

Dial: Pink, white or light-blue mother-of-pearl with lab-grown diamonds

Strap: Steel bracelet, steel and gold bracelet (for the bi-metal watch) or color-matched alligator leather

Breitling Navitimer 32 Origins

Movement: Breitling Caliber 77, quartz

Functions: Hours, minutes, seconds

Case: 32 x 8mm, red gold made with traceable gold from Swiss Better Gold Association accredited mines

Dial: White mother-of-pearl with lab-grown diamonds

Strap: 18 k red gold bracelet or brown alligator leather

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FEATURED FROM THE SHOP

Bell & Ross

Limited Edition

Bell & Ross x Alessandro Palazzi x Revolution & The Rake Bellytanker Chronograph "Vesper"

$5,250.00

TECH SPECS

Movement	Self-winding caliber BR.CAL-301; 42-hour power reserve
Functions	Hours, minutes, small seconds, chronograph and date
Case	41mm; CuAI7Si2 bronze; water resistant to 100m
Dial	Sunray brushed with applied, gold-plated indices
Strap	Black calfskin; satin polished bronze folding clasp
Limited Edition	Limited edition of 50 pieces

The post Breitling and Charlize Theron celebrate the release of new Navitimer models in 36 and 32mm appeared first on Revolution Watch.

Introducing Breitling Classic AVI collection, now in a 42mm case

Andre Frois — Tue, 30 May 2023 09:00:03 +0000

Introducing Breitling Classic AVI collection, now in a 42mm case

Inspired by iconic airplanes, the Classic AVI is cleared for take-off.

News

By Andre Frois

May 30, 2023

We live in exciting times. Since German-Swiss businessman Georges Kern purchased Breitling S.A. in 2017, he has grown the company’s value from CHF 800 million to purportedly CHF 4.5 billion. Founded by Léon Breitling in 1884, Breitling in recent years had relied heavily on professional icons like the Navitimer, SuperOcean and Avenger. Breitling has been thoroughly revamped by Kern, who scoured Breitling’s archives to revive historic collections like the Premier and Top Time. These arrived in vibrant colors that evoke classic cars and planes, replete with vintage-inspired details.

The shift to enticing retro-inspired timepieces is something everyone seems to enjoy. Breitling is more attentive than ever to what the modern luxury consumer wants, and is celebrating the 70th anniversary of the original 1953 Ref. 765 AVI Co-Pilot with the new Classic AVI Chronograph 42 watches, Super AVI B04 Chronograph GMT 46 Mosquito Night Figther, and the 41mm AVI REF. 765 1964 Re-Edition.

In the 1930s, Breitling also had the Huit Aviation Department that made cockpit clocks and wrist chronographs for aeronautical explorers. The fruit of Breitling’s continual invention and advancement was the Ref. 765 AVI Co-Pilot of 1953, a very advanced wrist instrument of its era that had a rotating 12- hour bezel for recording flight times and quickly earned the nickname “Co-Pilot” because of its usefulness.

From left: A 1953 original next to the new Breitling AVI Ref. 765 1953 Re-Edition

In 2023, the achievements of the 1953 Co-Pilot are fêted by new chronograph timepieces that sport colorways and designs themed on four legendary aircraft, smaller versions of the 46mm models which debuted in 2021. The legendary aircraft in question are: the North American Aviation P-51 Mustang (black dial and gold brown strap), the Vought F4U Corsair (blue dial with black strap), the Curtiss P-40 Warhawk (khaki dial with brown strap), and the De Havilland Mosquito (black dial with black ceramic bezel on brown strap). The silhouette of each airplane is inscribed onto the case back of each respective watch, and each watch’s leather strap can be swapped out for a five-row metal bracelet.

Four legendary planes

Among these airplanes, the De Havilland Mosquito is starkly different as it was made out of wood. During aluminum and steel shortages caused by war and economic depression, engineers chose to build the Mosquito out of wood, which unexpectedly resulted in this lightweight plane achieving astounding air speeds.

As it outperformed many other planes built in the 1940s and ’50s, the Mosquito would be modified into a light bomber, a transport and a photographic reconnaissance plane, including the Super AVI Mosquito Night Fighter, which was an all-black two-seater stealth craft. This legend inspired a new release – the Super AVI B04 Chronograph GMT 46 Mosquito Night Fighter, a black ceramic watch that is driven by the automatic Breitling Manufacture Caliber B04 and is accentuated by blue Super-LumiNova details.

Super AVI B04 Chronograph GMT 46 Mosquito Night Fighter

Breitling has also unveiled a 41mm AVI REF. 765 1964 re-edition, which is powered by a manually wound Breitling Manufacture Caliber B09 with a 70-hour power reserve, and juxtaposes a black dial with white chronograph counters.

AVI REF. 765 1964 Re-edition

Georges Kern, CEO of Breitling says, “People love the sturdy, understated look of the Super AVI, but not everyone has the wrist to pull off the extra-large size that gives it its authentic tool-watch feel. The Classic AVI trades some functions to achieve the pared-down format our customers have been asking for. The Classic and Super models will now live side by side, providing more choice.”

Breitling Classic AVI Collections

Tech Specs

Classic AVI Chronograph 42 P-51 Mustang

References: A233803A1B1A1; A233803A1B1X1 (steel models); R233801A1B1R1; R233801A1B1X1 (red gold models)
Movement: Self-winding Breitling Caliber 23; approximately 48-hour power reserve
Functions: Hours, minutes, seconds and chronograph
Case: 42mm; steel or 18k red gold; water resistant to 100m
Dial: Black with chronograph counters (tone-on-tone or black contrasting); with green-emitting or blue-emitting Super-LumiNova numerals, indexes and hands
Strap:Gold brown or black pilot-inspired calfskin leather and folding buckle or five-row bracelet (steel or red gold) with butterfly clasp

Classic AVI Chronograph 42 Tribute to Vought F4U Corsair

References: A233801A1C1A1; A233801A1C1X1
Movement: Self-winding Breitling Caliber 23; approximately 48-hour power reserve
Functions: Hours, minutes, seconds and chronograph
Case: 42mm; steel; water resistant to 100m
Dial: Blue with tone-on-tone chronograph counters; with blue-emitting Super-LumiNova numerals, indexes and hands
Strap: Black pilot-inspired calfskin leather and folding buckle or five-row stainless steel bracelet with butterfly clasp

Classic AVI Chronograph 42 Curtiss Warhawk

References: A233801A1C1A1; A233801A1C1X1
Movement: Self-winding Breitling Caliber 23; approximately 48-hour power reserve
Functions: Hours, minutes, seconds and chronograph
Case: 42mm; steel; water resistant to 100m
Dial: Military green with white contrasting chronograph counters; with green-emitting Super-LumiNova numerals, indexes and hands
Strap: Brown pilot-inspired calfskin leather and folding buckle or five-row stainless steel bracelet with butterfly clasp

Classic AVI Chronograph 42 Mosquito

References: Y233801A1B1A1; Y233801A1B1X1
Movement: Self-winding Breitling Caliber 23; approximately 48-hour power reserve
Functions: Hours, minutes, seconds and chronograph
Case: 42mm; steel; water resistant to 100m
Dial: Black with white contrasting chronograph counters; with blue-emitting Super-LumiNova numerals, indexes and hands
Strap: Brown pilot-inspired calfskin leather and folding buckle or five-row stainless steel bracelet with butterfly clasp

Super AVI B04 Chronograph GMT 46 Mosquito Night Fighter

References: SB04451A1B1X1
Movement: Self-winding Breitling Manufacture Caliber B04; approximately 70-hour power reserve
Functions: Hours, minutes, seconds and chronograph
Case: 46mm; black ceramic; water resistant to 100m
Dial: Black with anthracite contrasting chronograph counters; with blue-emitting Super-LumiNova numerals, indexes and hands
Strap: Black military calfskin leather with titanium folding clasp

AVI REF. 765 1964 Re-edition

References: AB09451A1B1X1
Movement: Manual winding Breitling Manufacture Caliber B09; approximately 70-hour power reserve
Functions: Hours, minutes, seconds and chronograph
Case: 41mm; steel; water resistant to 30m
Dial: Black with white contrasting chronograph counters; with Super-LumiNova numerals, hour, and minute hands
Strap: Black vintage-inspired leather with pin buckle

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FROM THE SHOP

Sold Out

Angelus

ANGELUS x REVOLUTION CHRONODATE "ANGELS' SHARE"

$23,800.00

TECH SPECS

Movement	Self-winding caliber A-500; 60 hours power reserve
Functions	Hours, minutes, small seconds, chronograph and date
Case	42.5mm; titanium; water resistant to 30m
Dial	Salmon (6N gold plated) with gené or frosted area; Super-LumiNova filled Arabic numerals
Strap	Ballistic gray rubber; titanium folding clasp

The post Introducing Breitling Classic AVI collection, now in a 42mm case appeared first on Revolution Watch.

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