The Breitling Watch Blog

I was browing in my latest issue of Watch Time magazine, and noticed a new Zenith El Primero watch called the Striking 10th Chronograph, which has a new 1/10th second Chronograph timer. In addition to the remarkably accurate chronograph, the watch returns to Zenith’s roots as far as Style. While this is not new for companies such as Breitling and IWC as they have re-released vintage watch designs, this is a drastic change of direction for Zenith, who went the complete opposite direction by dropping their old style completely when they went with the Chronomaster and Defy watches.

See the video!

Panerai’s new Radiomir Regatta Split Seconds PAM343 is amazing! 47mm Titanium Radiomir case with Split Second OPXXI 40 Jewels movement. The watch features a exhibition back and curved sapphire crystal. The model is a limited edition 2010 model commemorating the Classic Yachts Challenge.

While not anything extremely different from any of Panerai’s offerings, its a very cool 47mm Radiomir with a Split Seconds Chronograph, something my collection would welcome with open arms.

Jaquet Droz launches a new SW Chronograph, using their new more modern and sport watch design. I am a big fan of Jaquet Droz’s gentleman’s watches, and while I like the SW Chronograph, I’m not sure I like it as much as I like their more traditional offerings. The pushers and crown are cast Rubber, creating a unique feel.

Specifications
Case: stainless steel
Diameter: 45mm
Water Resistance: 50m
Movement: Jaquet Droz caliber 6885-S column wheel chronograph with a 22kt white gold rotor, 37 jewels, 21,600 vph and 40hr power reserve.

Gresso, a manufacturer of luxury mobile phones, has entered the Luxury Wrist Watch market with their first watch at Baselworld 2010. The watch features a big 45mm case, available in 18K Rose or White gold, and features the rotor on the front of the watch face next to the dial in a side by side configuration. The movement uses a modified ETA 2671, and is named the Gresso G1. The watch has two crystals on the front and two on the back and one more somewhere else, which I cannot find, all sapphire. It claims that it is the first watch with 5 Sapphire Crystals. Production will be limited to 100 watches in each metal.

Specs:
Diameter: 45mm
Height: 12mm
Movement: Gresso G1 (Base ETA 2671)
Functions: Hours, Minutes, Seconds
Price: $60,000

Breitling has launched several new models on their website.. many of which I have added to the website… the newest additions are the Galactic series of watches which use the Breitling Chronomat B01 style of bezel which incorporates the “Space Invaders” style bezel perhaps earning the name “Galactic”.

The new models are:
Breitling Galactic 30

Breitling Galactic 32

Breitling Galactic 36 Automatic

Breitling Galactic 41

Breitling Chrono Galactic

Breitling Chronospace

NEW Breitling SuperOcean

Including some limited edition models:

Breitling Blackbird Blacksteel

Breitling Navitimer Cosmonaute 125th Anniversary

The new Breitling SuperOcean has been revealed, and it is a heck of a radical change. Gone are the rider tabs, gone are the solid stainless bezels. We are returned to the bezel inserts reminscent of the Breitling Superocean Heritage, except this time being rubber inserts. The dial and colors are very attractive to me, but somehow lacks the class that made the previous SuperOcean such a versatile watch.

The watch sizes in at 42mm, which is not changed from before. The numerals on the bezel are a little bit like the space invaders numbers that populate the bezel on the B01 as well. Movement is the tried and true Breitling Caliber 17, and Helium Valve is located at 10 o’clock. Water resistance remains unchanged at 1500m. The new dial colors are called: Abyss Black, Abyss Silver, Abyss Blue, Abyss Red and Abyss Yellow. The tip of the second hand also matches the color of the chapter ring, which is a nice touch. The lume is now super oversized and could be called the Maxi-Dial, to coin a Rolex term

Louis Monet introduces the Jurassic Tourbillon, which measures an imposing 47mm and has a dial made of authentic fossilised dinosaur bones. The watch is a limited edition of 50 pieces and made of 18kt white gold.

The movement is hand-wound and exclusive to Louis Moinet. It features:
-Tourbillon
-19 jewels
-21,600 vph
-lateral lever escapement
-winding mechanism with “octopus” spring visible on the back
-72-hour power reserve.
-Stingray Strap

One of the new models from Basel that I am excited about is the Eterna Madison 8 Days Spherodrive. I have had a soft spot for Eterna watches for a long time, and my small collection of Eternas is evidence of that. I have been impressed with the companies creation of new in-house movements (They did create ETA, after all), and have used their signature ball bearing innovation to make the Spherodrive.

The new Eterna Madision 8 Days Spherodrive uses their handwound caliber 3510, and the watch measures 53mm x 38mm, a very healthy size. Its also a beautiful dial and movement, with all screws and screw holes and edges beveled from what it looks like.