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!

Enter the Breitling Transocean Chronograph 1915. Finally, a refreshingly different, yet quintessentially Breitling-styled watch from my favourite watch company. It captures all the retro charm of the era that saw the creation of the chronograph pushpiece, and captures it in a truly uniquely styled watch with an interesting dial design and mono-pusher version of the in-house Breitling chronograph movement dubbed the Caliber 14 (Which happens to be a designation that was used before, oddly – two caliber 14’s now?).

100th anniversary of a capital invention
One century ago, Breitling created the first independent chronograph pushpiece. To celebrate this milestone invention that was to change the face of the chronograph, the brand is introducing a limited series of its Transocean model, with an exclusive new Manufacture Breitling caliber and an unusual design reinterpreting the famous 1915 pushpiece.

Pocket chronographs had only one pushpiece, housed in the crown and successively handling the start, stop and zero-reset functions. In 1915, Breitling – a specialist in technical watches – was one of the very first brands to offer a wrist chronograph. But in relocating it from the waistcoat pocket to the wrist, the firm introduced an innovation that did not go unnoticed. The founder’s son, Gaston Breitling, came up with the ingenious idea of ensuring a clearer separation of functions by creating a pushpiece independent of the crown to control the three chronograph operations. Keen to ensure smooth, ergonomic handling, he chose to place the pushpiece at 2 o’clock, where the thumb or forefinger naturally rests, whether the watch is on the wrist or held in the palm of the hand. In 1923, Breitling perfected this system by separating the stop/start functions, governed by the pushpiece at 2 o’clock, from the crown-activated zero-resetting. This patented innovation would enable users to add up several successive times without needing to reset the hands to zero – whether timing a sports competition, a scientific process or a flight time. Finally, in 1934, Breitling took the final step in shaping the modern face of the chronograph by creating the second independent pushpiece exclusively intended for zero-resetting. This patented invention was soon adopted by all its competitors.

A monopusher chronograph with double column wheel

To celebrate this major milestone in its history, and the history of watchmaking, Breitling has created the Transocean Chronograph 1915. Far from contenting itself with a mere re-edition of the original model, the firm has chosen to reinterpret it from both technical and aesthetic angles. The steel case, designed in the pure style of the Transocean collection, features the famous pushpiece at 2 o’clock, but expressed in a redesigned, elongated and smoothly integrated form that further enhances its functionality. A concern for comfort and ergonomics that would doubtless have pleased Gaston Breitling. To ensure that this single pushpiece can successively handle the start, stop and zero-reset functions, the Breitling watchmakers and engineers have developed the new hand-wound Manufacture Breitling Caliber B14, officially chronometer-certified, equipped with a clever two-tiered double column-wheel system activated by chronograph controls also arranged on two levels.

A patent has been filed for this innovative construction. The twin-zone silvered dial with small seconds and 30-minute counter is adorned with large Arabic numerals and baton-type hands accentuated by a luminescent coating in an appealing patinated shade. A vintage touch reinforced by the historical Breitling signature and the steel mesh bracelet. A sapphire caseback enables one to admire the unusual construction of the monopusher chronograph movement, along with the “100e anniversaire 1915-2015” (100th anniversary 1915-2015) engraving. This model is issued in a limited series of 1,915. A collector’s piece for all chronograph lovers.