The Breitling Watch Blog

BENTLEY LIGHT BODY MIDNIGHT CARBON

Ultra-light, ultra-sporty

Beneath its all-black exterior, the highly original Bentley Light Body Midnight Carbon issued in a 1,000-piece worldwide limited edition conceals a light and sturdy titanium chassis featuring a highly resistant carbon-based coating.

The dashboard-style dial displays two exclusive Breitling technical features highlighted by red-rimmed indications. The ingenious “30-second chronograph” system, heir to a 1926 Breitling patent, with its central hand sweeping around the dial in half a minute instead of the customary 60 seconds, provides highly accurate 1/8th of a second readings. Contrary to conventional tachometers, designed to handle observations based only on times of less than 60 seconds, the “variable tachometer” activated via the rotating pinion bezel serves to measure average speeds whatever the time elapsed, the distance covered or the speed reached. The originality and strength of the all-black design are accentuated by the hands and hour-markers also clad in matt black – enhanced by a luminescent coating ensuring optimal readability in the dark. The midnight black rubber strap is distinguished by its central raised motif echoing that of the knurled bezel – a refined nod to the famous radiator grilles gracing the prow of Bentley cars. The performances of this elegant and ultra-sporty watch are powered by a selfwinding chronograph movement chronometer-certified by the COSC (Swiss Official Chronometer Testing Institute) – the ultimate reference in terms of reliability and precision and the only one based on an international standard.

Thin is in. At least at JLC it is. SIHH 2013 releases from JLC and several other brands tell us that Thinner, sleeker watches are back in vogue. Check out some of the ultra-thin offerings from JLC for 2013:

Jaeger-LeCoultre Master Ultra Thin Jubilee

Jaeger-LeCoultre Master Ultra Thin 41

Jaeger-LeCoultre Grande Reverso Ultra Thin Duoface

In addition to the ultra-thin models, we have some updates and absolute masterpieces as well. One of the pieces that I really think is the Jaeger-LeCoultre Deep Sea Chronograph Cermet, which features a case made of an “aluminum matrix” reinforced by Ceramic particles and topped with a 40 micron thick ceramic coating.

Jaeger-LeCoultre Deep Sea Chronograph Cermet

Master Grande Tradition Tourbillon Cylindrique à Quantième Perpétuel Jubilee

Jaeger-LeCoultre Rendez-Vous Celestial

Just a little snippet of some of the cool stuff that JLC has in store for us this year. Lots of thin, and lots of bling. Only time will tell of this ultra-thin craze will stick!

Breitling has released a new Transocean Chronograph 38, which is marketed to the lady crowd. This is the first Chronograph that Breitling has made for women. The watch features an automatic chronometre certified chronograph movement, the Breitling Caliber 41.

TRANSOCEAN CHRONOGRAPH 38
First-class femininity

A tribute to the spirit of travel to distant lands aboard luxurious longhaul airliners, the Breitling Transocean welcomes a brand-new chronograph for women endowed with a distinctive blend of character and elegance.

With its understated design and refined dials, the Transocean offers a resolutely contemporary stylistic interpretation of the aesthetic of 1950s and 1960s chronographs. A model of fine workmanship and excellence, it has established itself as a new classic marrying prestige and distinction. Breitling is now enriching this exceptional collection with a 38 mm-diameter ladies’ chronograph that lends a touch of character to any wrist, including the daintiest. The case with its pure lines, accentuated by a beveled bezel and slender lugs, comes in a choice of steel or 18K red gold. The meticulously crafted dials are adorned with applied hour-markers and hollowed counters featuring a spiral motif. They are available in three refined colors – deep black, glowing silver and a highly original midnight blue shade. The caseback is engraved with the two stylized planes that were a longtime Breitling symbol, as indeed was the initial B in 18K gold enhancing the dial. The Barenia or crocodile leather straps offer a broad choice of vivid or classic hues, while a steel mesh bracelet lends a touch ­of boldness and sophistication. A paragon of elegance, the Transocean Chronograph 38 also boasts outstanding performances thanks to a selfwinding chronograph movement chronometer-certified by the COSC (Swiss Official Chronometer Testing Institute), the highest benchmark in terms of precision and reliability. Transocean Chronograph 38: First-class femininity.

Caliber
Breitling 41

Movement
Selfwinding mechanical

Chronograph
1/4th second, 30 minutes
Vibration
28 800 v.p.h
38 jewels

Case
Steel or 18K red gold

Water resistance
100 meters (330 ft/10 bars)

Crystal
Convex sapphire crystal, glareproofed on both side

Diameter
38,00 mm

Strap/bracelet
Barenia leather, crocodile leather/Ocean Classic (steel mesh, steel version only)

Navitimer Blue Sky Limited Edition 60th anniversary

Breitling celebrates the legendary Navitimer’s 60 years in flight

To mark the 60th anniversary of the Navitimer chronograph, the cult model among pilots and aviation enthusiasts, Breitling is introducing a 500-piece limited edition with an elegant dial in an exclusive shade of blue and aptly named the Navitimer Blue Sky.

In 1952, Breitling – already a firm fixture among aeronautical professionals – decided to create a new “wrist instrument” specifically designed with aviators in mind. The result was the Navitimer with its famous circular slide rule providing simple and fast handling of all calculations relating to airborne navigation: an authentic wristworn instrument panel. In an era preceding the advent of electronic calculators, this model unique in its kind was soon adopted by many pilots for flight preparation and monitoring – whether it came to calculating average speed, distance covered, fuel consumption or rates of ascent and descent. The only authentic aviation chronograph in widespread use, it was naturally chosen as the official watch by the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association, the largest of its kind in the world and of which the logo often appears on models from the 1950s and 1960s. The Navitimer features a functional design and a highly original technical yet elegant look that is recognizable at first glance. It thus established itself as one of the ten great 20th century watchmaking classics, a timeless benchmark in its field and a reliable value. Continuously made since 1952, while remaining loyal to the aesthetic of the original, it is the world’s oldest mechanical chronograph still in production.

A handsomely stylish limited edition

To celebrate its 60 years in flight, the favorite watch among aviation enthusiasts is now available in a 500-piece steel limited edition with a magnificent blue dial, a silver inner bezel and a red central chronograph seconds hand. A handsomely stylish new face for the most emblematic Breitling model. A transparent caseback affords a chance to admire Manufacture Breitling Caliber 01, the best selfwinding chronograph movement. The series number is engraved on the case middle at 9 o’clock, and the color match is reinforced by an exclusive dark blue crocodile leather strap. The Navitimer Blue Sky Limited Edition 60th anniversary is also available on the Navitimer bracelet – or the highly original perforated Air Racer bracelet.

Navitimer: the legend lives on.

GoS releases their Spring Season watch, in a limited edition of 5. Why they’re releasing the Spring model on the first day of Fall, I’m not sure, but what the heck, they’re Watchmakers, not meteorologists. It is a beautifully crafted watch, like all of the GoS pieces, and features Damascus Steel cases and damascus dials with unique 18k hands.

“GoS proudly presents – Spring – the third model in the Nordic Seasons series of watches that are designed with inspiration from the rich contrasts of the nordic seasons. The dial for the Spring is made in tempered pattern welded steel, also known as damascus steel, that has been hand forged in Johan Gustafsson’s unique Explosion pattern. The yellow tempered coloring of the steel meant to illustrate the return of the sun, which is a very
important aspect of life in Scandinavia.

Since ancient times, people living in the northern hemisphere have had a need to celebrate the arrival of spring with cleansing bonfires and celebration at the end of a cold and dark winter. Swedes do this on April 30, Valborg (Walpurgis Night). Normally, Spring is already well established in the southern reaches of the country, while northerners still have to wait a few weeks longer. Nevertheless, this is the evening when Swedes welcome the Spring.”

Watch series – Nordic Seasons
? Case: Stainless steel and stainless damascus steel 44/45mmx10mm (10ATM)
? Lug width: 22mm
? Glass: Flat sapphire glass with AR coating
? Movement: Swiss manual ETA 6498
? Movement refinement: Refinished and improved to chronometre grade by the swiss company Soprod.
? Dial: Handforged damascus steel
? Index ring/rehaut: Solid gold, shaped and polished by hand
? Hands: Solid gold, shaped and polished by hand
? Crown: 9mm in finegrained stainless damascus stainless steel, double gasket crown inset
? Case finishing: Stainless damascus steel, highgloss polished with GoS logo engraved on case side.
? Strap: Handcrafted strap in soft nubuck leather fitted with GoS stainless steel buckle

Damascus steel movement
? Movement: Swiss manual ETA 6498 : yellow
? Movement refinement: Improved to chronometre grade by the swiss company Soprod.
? Movement modification: 3/4 bridge made in solid handforged damascus steel.
? Limitation: 4pcs, available as an option to the Nordic Season series.

Watch Model – Nordic Seasons Spring
? Dial: Handforged explosion damascus steel, tempered to receive a main nuance in yellow
? Hands: Solid 18K gold in the red swedish gold nuance
? Index ring: Solid 18K gold in the red swedish gold nuance
? Limitation: 5pcs

Presentation Box
? Individually crafted box in svepask technique of birch wood
? Colored with natural pigments mized in linseed oil
? Covered with high grade natural wax and polished to a deep finish
? Protection box of black&grey hard paper
? Guarantee certificate, two years guarantee