The Breitling Watch Blog

The Breitling Jet Team, Breitling Wingwalkers and Yves “Jetman” Rossy are flying East for winter, to bring Breitling’s passions for aviation to new audiences in what is being collectively called “The Breitling Dragon Tour”.

All three teams are heading to Asia to participate in Airshow China 2012, held in Zhuhai, Guangdong province. Although the 1940’s Stearmans of the wingwalking team and Yves Rossy’s Jetwings can all be shipped there in containers, the Breitling Jet Team will have to get there with their own wings. Leaving from Dijon this Tuesday, they will fly through Eastern Europe, into Russia passing through Siberia, then on to Mongolia and down through China to reach their destination by mid-October.

Breitling Aviation Director, Nigel Lamb flew the first civilian aerobatic team in China in 1996: “There is such an incredible fascination and enthusiasm for aviation in China, the team is well remembered even to this day. I’m looking forward to going back with all three teams and entirely different spectacles from Europe. Hopefully, this is just the start of the adventure. We’re looking into keeping the Breitling Jet Team in Asia for 2013 and organizing a series of tours in the region.”

Breitling Jet Team leader, Jacques Bothelin continues: “While we are there we want to make the most of our opportunities, we will miss the European 2013 season, but it will be exciting to explore new countries and display to new crowds. We’ll be back in Europe early 2014 with some great experiences to relay.”

Breitling watch saves the life of stranded hunter on August 15th, 2012

Emergency Transmitter in Watch Alerts Alaska Rescuers to Missing Man’s Location

A watch made more than a fashion statement when it helped save a stranded hunter’s life in Alaska on August 15th. Mark Spencer was hunting grizzly bears about 120 miles northeast of Anchorage when he became stuck in the wilderness along Susitna River in the heart of the infamous Alaska Range. Unable to navigate the hazardous Class 6 rapids of the Susitna River, his float-hunting party had diverted the course of their boat to the Tyone River. But the river route proved too shallow for their vessel. Spencer left his group and went searching for help on the glaciated Susitna River and struck a shoal tearing a hole in the vessel sinking it in the icy waters. He had spent more than 48 treacherous hours struggling for his life among the unrelenting elements of the Alaskan Backcountry.

“Breitling is the number one piece of equipment I always bring with me”, said Spencer, who works in the renewable energy industry. “Even if I lose everything, I will always have my watch. That gives me and my family peace of mind.”

The timepiece is designed with a micro-transmitter broadcasting on the 121.5 MHz aircraft emergency frequency. The transmitter is activated by unscrewing a protective cap and extending a short antenna. Despite the small size of the watch, the signal range is comparable to traditional hand-held Personal Locator Beacon (PLB) and can broadcast for 48 hours.

Spencer activated his watch’s Emergency Locator Transmitter (ELT) after a dangerous trek up the frigid Susitna River left him hypothermic and near death in the isolated backcountry. A rescue crew was able to pinpoint his location and lift him to safety by helicopter after they picked up the distress signal.

“It brings Breitling great pleasure to hear about this kind of customer satisfaction”, said Thierry Prissert, President of Breitling USA. “We’re hoping from now on he only has to use his watch to tell time.”

Graham enters the Diver Watch realm with a BANG – their new Chronofighter Prodive is an impressive looking beast of a watch. Its the first Graham watch where the eccentricities actually seem to fall into the right place. The famous Graham lever actually seems to fit with the style much better than previous models and blends in. This will be a Graham that finally appeals to non-Graham lovers. Its even got decent 600m water resistance.

-Chronograph (seconds, 30 minutes counter) to measure decompression time. Date at 9 o’clock. Black PVD automatic Helium escape valve
-Hours, minutes, seconds
-Calibre G1750, automatic mono-pusher chronograph, 28’800 A/h (4Hz), Incabloc shock absorber
-25 jewels
-Power reserve : 48 hours
-45 mm steel case
-Integrated steel with black PVD left hand fast-action start / stop / reset trigger. Functional at 2000 feet / 600 m.
-Screwed yellow rubber coated crown (automatic locking system (bayonet) and red safety ring)
-Steel with black PVD bezel, unidirectional rotating rim (120 positions) to measure dive time, luminous indicator at 12 o’clock
-Domed sapphire crystal, anti-reflective coating on both faces
-Steel case back with shark imprinted and limited edition serial number
-2000 feet / 600 m / 60 bar
-Black dial and counters, propeller-shaped seconds counter (running indicator)
-White Super-LumiNova hands and grey indexes, yellow chrono and minutes counter’s hands
-Double luminescent indications: blue and green

More info: http://www.graham-london.com/en-gb/collection/prodive/prodive/2cdavb02a.aspx