The Breitling Watch Blog

New Breitling 30 second TV Spot. Continuing the tradition of pilots and hot chicks and sweet cars!

The first totally new watch line from Breitling in a couple years, dubbed the Chronoliner. This new watch is hard for me to place. I’m excited because it is kind of vintage looking, with a couple neat features like the ceramic bezel. It also uses the Navitimer World case as a base and is available with the optional navitimer bracelet in addition to the Ocean Racer.

The authentic flight captain’s watch
A chronometer-certified chronograph to measure flight times, a second timezone display in 24-hour mode to juggle time differences around the planet, a scratch-resistant high-tech black ceramic bezel: the new Chronoliner reinterprets the spirit of aviation in an original and timeless style.

Across more than half a century, aviation has enjoyed spectacular progress. Planes’ performances have reached dizzying heights. The instrument panels featuring pointer-type counters and manual controls of the Super Constellation aircraft and the first jets have given way to computer screens and electronic joysticks. But two things have remained unchanged: flight captains still wear the same prestigious uniform; and a Breitling chronograph continues to sit proudly on their wrist.

Inspired by a model from the 1950s and 60s, an era when Breitling was already an “official supplier to world aviation”, the new Chronoliner continues this tradition in a resolutely modern spirit. Its most distinctive feature is a broad bezel in scratch-resistant high-tech ceramic – one of the hardest synthetic materials – with a star-shaped cut-out to facilitate handling, along with white ceramic numerals ensuring an optimal contrast. The second timezone is clearly and simply read off thanks to the red-tipped hand and this rotating bezel with its graduated 24-hour scale, equipped with an ultra-precise ratcheted system. Just the ticket for a long-haul flight anywhere in the world. The performances of the chronograph, which is officially chronometer-certified by the COSC (Swiss Official Chronometer Testing Institute) like all Breitling movements, are displayed on counters at 12, 9 and 6 o’clock. The dial is distinguished by a degree of legibility worthy of the finest flight instruments, with white luminescent hour-markers standing out against a black background, oversized hour/minute hands, along with counter hands also featuring a luminescent coating. The robust polished steel case with its 46 mm diameter radiates a strong presence on the wrist of professionals. The caseback bears the stylized planes that were a longtime Breitling signature. The original and timeless touch is complemented by a comfortable and distinctive steel mesh bracelet. The new Chronoliner: the authentic flight captain’s watch.

With a return to the previous design of the Colt, Breitling had to add a larger Ladies size model to accompany the 33mm Colt Lady. Enter the Breitling Colt 36. Not a whole lot to say about this one, as its pretty standard – a quartz, 36mm ladies Colt.

From Breitling:
A feminine expression of the Breitling spirit

A new 36 mm diameter, new mother-of-pearl dials, the Colt by Breitling ticks to ladies’ time while maintaining its legendary sturdiness and readability. For women wishing to combine elegance with performance.

With its original lines and its 36 mm diameter designed to grace any wrist, the Colt ticks to ladies’ time, while maintaining its legendary sturdiness, functionality and readability. The black, blue or silver dials are complemented by two variations in natural mother-of-pearl, one of them enhanced with diamond hour-markers. All versions are available with an optional diamond-set bezel. An authentic Breitling in the feminine mode – for all women wishing to combine elegance with performance.

Revisiting this watch now that I have spent more time and have owned a couple of them. Could be the quintessential Breitling, even more so than the Navitimer in some ways because it more closely resembles the styling of the majority of the Breitling line. The Navitimer is an Icon that will always be synonymous with Breitling, but the Chronomat is the watch that leads their designs. Hope you enjoy the review!

A rare review of a ladies watch – but this is such a stunner, I had to review it! This is the model WB520005, featuring a beautiful 18k pink gold ellipse case, first introduced by Louis Cartier in 1906. This beautifully crafted piece is the largest of the Baignoire line, featuring a case measuring 44mm x 34.07mm and is 10.05mm thick. It is a statement piece from Cartier, with many little features and highlights that I’ll talk about.

First a frontal shot to really appreciate the watch and the presence it carries. Two rows of brilliant cut diamonds, totaling 149 and a reverse set brilliant-cut diamond in the crown with a total carat weight of 1.44. The dial is silver flinque-engraved, and features Cartier’s signature roman numerals.

The reverse-set diamond in the crown is truly a thing of beauty, and a very unique feature from Cartier that really sets the watch off. It may be one of my favourite features of this watch! A nice change of pace from the usual sapphire cabochon. The sides of the case are polished 18k pink gold.

The mechanical manual winding caliber 430 MC is in-house designed and looks fantastic through the sapphire see-through caseback. It is signed and features the Cartier logo monogram on the bridges. Its rare to see a ladies watch with a mechanical movement these days, with most electing to have quartz so this is a nice little bonus.

The 18k Pink Gold deployant clasp a precision crafted thing of beauty! It requires folding of the strap for installation and will not take most aftermarket straps. I also purchased a fuchsia crocodile strap for this watch and it costed about $300. It is not as easy to user-replace as others from Cartier, but it is doable.

Lastly a beauty shot, which unfortunately came out a little fuzzy. Still a heck of a looker that any woman would be proud to wear on her wrist! This might be one of the most beautiful, yet slightly understated (if it weren’t for the diamonds) luxury ladies watches out there. The long case allows it to stretch across the wrist, and really shows it off, while still being comfortable and relatively light and wearable.

Specs:
Model: Large model
Case Material: 18K pink gold, diamonds
Strap: Fabric strap
Size: 44mm x 34.07mm
Thickness 10.05mm
Reference: WB520005