The Breitling Watch Blog

Breitling revamps the Avenger watches, dubbed the Avenger II Collection. Some very subtle changes here, but significant nonetheless. New stenciled number bezels, and some new fonts for the Seawolf along with a brand new GMT Avenger Chronograph are just a few of the updates. Check ’em out on the Breitling website: http://www.breitling.com/en/campaigns/avenger/

THE AVENGER RAMPS UP THE POWER

As authentic instruments for professionals, the models in the Avenger line have been redesigned in a style that is even more technical, functional and sophisticated. An exceptional look for these trustworthy companions on the most extreme missions.

Absolute power. Steely muscles. Peerless performances. Extraordinary precision. The Avenger by Breitling has been designed to offer a maximum of security and reliability. A maximum of sturdiness and shock-resistance with its robust construction and its substantial lateral reinforcements. A maximum of functionality, with its large screw-locked crown and non-slip grip. A maximum of readability, with its thick glareproofed sapphire crystal and its oversized hands, numerals and hour-markers.

Breitling now gives a new face to outstanding accomplishments by redesigning the entire Avenger line in a resolutely original style. The slimmer case adopts an even more ergonomic profile. The new stencil-type numerals with their taut, dynamic lines, further strengthen the ties with aviation. The new engraved and satin-brushed bezel is adorned with integrated rider tabs. The readability is optimized by large hands and hour-markers accentuated by a luminescent coating. Titanium casebacks – bearing a conversion scale for Anglo-Saxon metric measurements – keeps the case lighter.

The new Avenger II collection comprises four models endowed with highly distinctive functions and characters. Four instruments for all manner of missions:

The Avenger II chronograph, featuring a 43 mm diameter, water resistance to 300 m (1,000 ft) and pushpiece guards screwed into the steel

The Super Avenger II chronograph, boasting an imposing 48 mm diameter and also water-resistant to 300 m (1,000 ft)

The professional super-diver model Avenger II Seawolf, water-resistant to the fabulous depth of 3,000 m (10,000 ft) and equipped with a security valve serving to equal out the differences of pressure between the inside and the outside of the case

The new Avenger II GMT, with an extremely practical and readable second timezone display in 24-hour mode, a bidirectional rotating bezel serving to read off a third time zone, as well as water resistance to 300 m (1,000 ft).

The Avenger models are available in several dial colors, with stencil-type numerals or hour-markers, on a rubber strap or on the new Professional bracelet with redesigned links. They are all equipped with mechanical selfwinding movements chronometer-certified by the COSC, the highest industry benchmark in terms of precision and reliability – and the only one based on an international norm.

Avenger: power in action.

Breitling launched a new blue SuperOcean 42 today, with a sweet cool blue dial, but the thing that reall sets it aside is the matching blue rubber bezel! This is an awesome new addition to the Breitling lineup, finally added some more colored bezels to the SuperOcean lineup. Hopefully we’ll see a few more unique colors added to the mix… the new all blue also has a new Blue Diver Pro 3 rubber strap to go with it. This is a limited edition of 2000 pieces, so get ’em while they last!

Life in cool blue

Breitling offers its vision of summer reflecting the sky, the sea and boundless horizons with its total blue-look Superocean 42 diver’s watch that brings a fresh and original touch to every wrist.

It surges confidently through the waves with its ultra-sturdy steel case water-resistant to 1500 meters (5,000 ft). It makes its way through changing fashions in bold style with its explosive look and dynamic numerals. Breitling offers a youthful, sporty and modern take on the Superocean 42 paying vibrant tribute to its aquatic vocation. In this 2,000-piece limited edition, the ratcheted unidirectional rotating bezel is clad in blue rubber – a shade picked up on the dial with its luminescent hands and hour-markers and on the rubber strap embossed with the Breitling signature. The result is an appealing play on colors and materials enhanced by the steel finish that is polished on the case and satin-brushed on the bezel numerals. While the new Superocean 42 looks set to be a summertime star on the beach, on the town and in the ocean depths, it nonetheless boasts all the characteristics of a true Breitling instrument for professionals, including peerless functionality and readability. It is equipped with a selfwinding movement chronometer-certified by the COSC (Swiss Official Chronometer Testing Institute), the highest benchmark in terms of precision and reliability and the only one based on an international standard. Superocean 42: gear up for a cool blue summer.

In the wake of Basel 2013, Breitling releases a new Transocean watch, with an added GMT feature and utilizing the Breitling Caliber 04 movement dubbed the Breitling Transocean Chronograph GMT. The watch is housed in the same 43mm Transocean Chronograph case, but adds a nice red GMT hand and a wave-textured guilloche dial. Initial release comes in Black or Mercury Silver dial. The Mercury Silver dial is kinda funky, and features a bright red GMT Chapter Ring. The movement is Breitling’s in-house Caliber 04.

Watch: Breitling Transocean Chronograph GMT
Caliber: Breitling 04 (Manufacture)
Diameter: 43.00 mm
Case: Steel or 18K red gold
Strap: Barenia leather, crocodile leather/Ocean Classic (steel mesh, steel version only)

Beyond fashions, beyond oceans.

The contemporary classic Transocean collection welcomes a new travel watch boasting unprecedented user friendliness. To mark the launch of this chronograph with a nomadic soul, Breitling is offering red gold or steel limited editions featuring an elegant guilloché dial and a transparent caseback revealing Manufacture Breitling Caliber B04.

Entirely developed and produced within the Breitling workshops, selfwinding chronograph Caliber B04 is distinguished by its ultra-pratical and innovative second timezone powered by a patented mechanism. When the user reaches another part of the globe, he need only pull out the crown and turn it forwards or backwards in one-hour increments in order to instantly adjust to the time and date of the new timezone – all the while maintaining a 24-hour home-time indication and without losing any precision in terms of the minutes display. This highly functional device, combined with a high-performance chronograph, joins the Breitling Transocean collection – a line with a pure design reflecting the spirit of long-distance journeys and luxury long-haul airliners. Issued in limited series of 200 in red gold and 2,000 in steel, the new Transocean Chronograph GMT features an elegantly understated case with a beveled bezel and slender lugs. It is distinguished by a silver or black guilloché dial adorned with applied hour-markers, finely recessed counters and the 18K gold interpretation of the B initial that served for many years as the brand symbol. The transparent sapphire crystal caseback – a rarity for Breitling – provides a chance to admire the architecture of Manufacture Breitling Caliber B04, chronometer-certified by the COSC (Swiss Official Chronometer Testing Institute), as indeed are all Breitling movements. Timeless elegance, peerless performance, unrivaled user friendless: exactly the kind of qualities required to cross fashion trends and ocean expanses with enduring style and panache.

I combed throught the Basel Footage on eBay and selected a few of what I thought were the more interesting videos to give my readers an idea of what it was like at Baselworld and to pick out some of the Breitling related videos as well as other videos that are probably more interesting to Breitling collectors and enthusiasts. Rolex put out a slightly revamped Daytona and a slightly revamped GMT-II Master… nothing too special there. Anyway, take a look at a few of the picks and enjoy!

Breitling Emergency II at Basel 2013:

Breitling for Bentley B06 Motors at Basel 2013:

Breitling Fishtank at Basel 2013:

Rolex Daytona at Basel 2013:

Bell & Ross at Basel 2013:

Bremont Codebreaker at Basel 2013:

Basel 2013 Highlights:

Impressions from Attendants:

Breitling for Bentley Celebrates 10 years of collaborative history with the introduction of In-House movement equipped models. The first three models to be equipped with in-house movements from Breitling for Bentley are the Bentley B04 GMT, Bentley B05 Unitime and the Bentley B06.

Breitling for Bentley celebrates ten years on the road with three new chronographs equipped with in-house motors

British chic, Swiss excellence: the Breitling for Bentley collection has asserted a new art of living. It now welcomes three exceptional mechanisms equipped with Manufacture Breitling movements entirely developed and produced in-house. The Bentley B06 is distinguished by its exclusive “30-second chronograph” system; while the Bentley B04 GMT and Bentley B05 Unitime models will appeal to world travellers and citizens thanks to ultra-practical dual timezone and worldtime mechanisms. Three new expressions of a world apart combining luxury and accomplishment, performance and prestige.

2003 was not only the year Bentley made its big comeback on the track of the Le Mans 24 Hours race by winning the two top spots right off the bat. It also marked the start of the beautiful Breitling for Bentley adventure, a collection born from a cross between the grand art of British carmaking and the fine Swiss watchmaking tradition. Ten years later, this rich family of chronographs has won over the planet through its unique blend of elegance and performance, power and style, sportiness and refinement. Breitling now takes it to a new level by equipping it with three movements entirely designed and developed in the Breitling Chronométrie workshops with all the expertise of the chronograph and technical watch specialist. Three in-house engines combining peerless performance with innovative and user-friendly functions. These selfwinding chronograph B04, B05 and B06 calibres are endowed with a column wheel, a vertical coupling clutch and an over 70-hour power reserve. Like all Breitling for Bentley movements, they are chronometer-certified by the COSC (Swiss Official Chronometer Testing Institute), the highest benchmark in terms of precision and reliability, and the only one based on an international standard.

Bentley B06: a highly exclusive chronograph

A perfect emblem of the Breitling for Bentley spirit, the new Bentley B06 chronograph weds sophisticated aesthetics with Manufacture Breitling Calibre B06. It is distinguished by its ingenious “30-second chronograph” system, inspired by a Breitling patent dating from 1926 and based on a central hand sweeping around the dial in half a minute – thereby ensuring extremely accurate 1/8th second time readings. Another world-exclusive feature is the “variable tachometer” with a rotating bezel serving to calculate average speed whatever the time elapsed, the distance covered or the speed reached – contrary to standard tachometers that measure only times of less than 60 seconds. The knurled motif on the bezel, a nod to the famous Bentley radiator grilles, is picked up in the openworked dial revealing glimpses of the high-performance engine. This decidedly original approach continues on the reverse side of the watch that is fitted with a transparent caseback revealing a spectacular 360° sculpted oscillating weight evoking the shape of a wheel rim. The Bentley B06 is available in steel or red gold, along with a choice of a bracelet or a crocodile leather or rubber strap adorned with a central raised motif matching that on the bezel.

Bentley B04 GMT: keeping time with meridians

A watch for businessmen as well as all those with a taste for accomplishments who live and communicate across all longitudes, the new Bentley B04 GMT stands out for its extremely functional dual timezone system, combined with a high-performance selfwinding chronograph. Beneath the radiator grille of its finely openworked black or silver dial beats a Manufacture Breitling movement developed with all the skill and knowledge lavished on the finest engines and officially chronometer-certified by the COSC. To adjust the main hour hand to local time, the user can simply pull out the crown and turn it in either direction in one-hour increments. This is achieved without any loss of precision in terms of the minutes, and with automatic forward and backward date adjustment. Meanwhile, the red-tipped hand continues to show home time in 24-hour mode, thus enabling the user to distinguish between day and night. The Bentley B04 GMT expresses its powerful aesthetic in steel or red gold models, complete with a transparent caseback revealing a sculpted wheel rim-shaped oscillating weight.

Bentley B05 Unitime: worldwide horizons

For those who view travel as an art of living, Breitling for Bentley has created the Bentley B05 Unitime, a worldtime chronograph powered by an innovative Manufacture Breitling movement with a patented mechanism. Thanks to its double-disc system, this instrument boasting unprecedented user friendliness enables instant reading at any given moment of the time in all 24 timezones. Upon changing timezone, simply turning the crown forward or backward in one-hour increments enables the user to correct all indications in one smooth gesture, with the date automatically adjusted to local time. The 24-city bezel comprises indications serving to take account of “summer” or Daylight Saving Time (DST). The black or matt white dial is adorned with an artistically sculpted globe accentuating the travel theme. The high-performance chronograph movement, chronometer-certified by the COSC (Swiss Official Chronometer Testing Institute), measures feats accomplished the world over. It is driven by a highly original oscillating weight shaped like a wheel rim and visible through the transparent caseback. Available in steel as well as in red gold, the new Bentley B05 Unitime is fitted with a bracelet or with a rubber or crocodile leather strap.