The Breitling Watch Blog

As the newest addition to the Historiques collection, the bold character and sculptural lines of the Historiques Aronde 1954 captures the creativity and savoir-faire of Vacheron Constantin.

Featuring a rectangular case, hand-made guilloche dial, double-rounded curve on the case flanks reminiscent of wings, and a domed sapphire crystal, the Historiques Aronde 1954 is an iconic creation from the Vacheron Constantin collection.

Perfectly suited to accent the wrist of any gentleman with an appreciation for daring design and mechanical excellence.

It is indeed a beautiful watch housed in 18K Pink Gold, featuring a handwind 1400 AS movement with the Geneva Hallmark:

Reference: 1400 AS
Energy: manual
Thickness (mm): 2.60
Diameter (mm): 20.65 (9”’ )
Number of parts: 98
Number of jewels: 20
Frequency: 4 Hz (28’800 v.p.h.)
Power-reserve (hours): 40 approx.
Indication: hours, minutes, small second
Certification: Hallmark of Geneva

This is a little crazy looking for me, but hey, I’m sure there are many folks out there willing to shell out $16,500USD (15,000CHF) for an iridescent watch. Nothing like taking what is already a pretty funky looking watch, and making it funkier!

From Graham:
The multitude of colours is hypnotic. The iridescence of the Swordfish Booster Iris, similar to the most beautiful natural wonders, is eye-catching. Do you know what Iris means in Latin?

Rainbow.

This rainbow effect is not due to pigment but interferences of light. It means that light waves interfere with one another on a surface refracting parts of the spectrum which create the iridescent colors. You have probably already seen it in a soap bubble or in an oil stain on a wet pavement but it results from a high-technological process.

The change of colours is also due to the extremely complex composition of the layers’ oxide. The steel case and components have been placed in big vacuums producing plasma reaction.

This unique coating contains multi-layered structures that provide thin-film interference. The thickness across the surface causes changes of colours in reflected light. Iridescence adds a new dimension to “surface”.

Graham Swordfish Booster Iris

Functions
Chronograph (seconds, 30 minutes and 12 hours counter) Hours, minutes, seconds

Calibre
Calibre G1710, automatic bi-compax chronograph, 28’800 A/h (4 Hz), Incabloc shock absorber
34 jewels
Power reserve: 48 hours

Case
48 mm steel case with black PVD coating and interferential substrate (iridescent effect) with two portholes at 3 and 9 o’clock
Steel right hand control pushers with “Clous de Paris” high grip pattern
Steel bezel with black PVD coating and interferential substrate (iridescent effect)
Flat sapphire crystal, anti-reflective coating
See-through sapphire crystal case back, screwed-down case back

Water Resistance
330 feet / 100 m

Dial
Black mother-of-pearl dial. Hours and minutes black snailed counters. Counters are magnified by 15%.
Skeleton central hands with black tip, black numerals and indexes, black seconds hand, grey hours, minutes counters’ and chrono hands

Strap
Integrated green croco
Black ceramic pin buckle

Price
15’000 CHF

With just 12 pieces to go around, this is a timepiece for the truly entitled (that’s not me). An absolutely stunning masterpiece, like all Urwerk timepieces. If only I had the money….

With its orbiting satellites and arrow-shaped time-indicating torpedoes, the UR-110 ZrN Torpedo is a truly stellar timepiece. Its radiance has been maximized thanks to a coating of Zirconium Nitride on the bezel, which provides the distinctive pale gold hue that gives rise to the “Champagne Supernova” nickname.

Zirconium Nitride is a high-performance ceramic machine tool coating, commonly used for industrial parts and aerospace components. While only a few microns thick, it is extremely hard (2,000 Vickers) and provides superb scratch, wear and corrosion resistance, while exhibiting excellent lubricity and ductility.

The UR-110 ZrN Torpedo is an Édition Spéciale of just 12 pieces, each distinguished by a red satellite hour numeral. Available exclusively from Chronopassion (Paris), Marcus (London), The Hour Glass (Singapore) and Westime (Los Angeles).

Model: UR-110 ZrN Torpedo

Case: Titanium with bezel in 316L sandblasted stainless steel treated with *Zirconium Nitride (ZrN); caseback in titanium; surface finishes micro-sandblasted

Movement: calibre UR 9.01 self-winding, unidirectional winding rotor coupled to twin turbines

Indications: Revolving satellite complication with rotating hour/minute modules mounted on planetary gears. Control board: day/night indicator, “oil change” indicator and running seconds

Dimensions: 47mm x 51mm x 16mm

*Please note that ZrN (Zirconium Nitride) is an industrial treatment that can result in variations in and the colour/hue on the bezel and between individual models.

Announcing the new Breitling Colt! What do you guys think? I saw some preview pics from a dealer, and I’m still not liking this one so much unfortunately. All of the models in the Colt line are now Quartz, no more rider tabs.

FRONTRUNNER

The same spirit but a new look. Breitling has entirely redesigned its Colt model, a symbol of sturdiness, reliability and performance. A sculptural model carved in steel, the new Colt turns heads with its original styling clearly built for action, achievements and thrills. With its solid construction and its water resistance to 300 meters (1,000 ft) or 500 meters (1,650 ft), it establishes itself as an exceptionally sporty model, a champion and natural frontrunner. Its originality begins with the bezel featuring a taut, sophisticated shape and stamped numerals, and continues with the case echoing the same outline. The dials are adorned with new rounded numerals exclusively designed for this model, with rhythmical motifs and with a play on colors. The steel bracelet reinforces the unique character of this fresh, youthful and dynamic design, while ensuring optimal comfort and sturdiness.

Available in three versions endowed with strong and distinctive characters, including a chronograph and a ladies’ watch, the new Colt is equipped with SuperQuartz™ movements that are chronometer-certified by the COSC (Swiss Official Chronometer Testing Institute), like all Breitling movements.

RENO AIR RACES

Reno, Nevada. Every year in September, an array of original planes converge on Stead Airport to take part in one of the world’s great aviation venues: the famous Reno pylon races. Flying at dizzying speeds, these aircraft face off on circuits traced out in the desert, just a few feet off the ground. Their motto: “Fly low, go fast, turn left.” As a partner of all the fi nest hours in aviation, Breitling is the main sponsor of this event that is unique in the world – thereby pursuing its mission to perpetuate the competitive spirit, the taste for performance and the fierce quest for victory.

When I saw these watches, I got pretty excited. Romain Jerome has licensed the Space Invaders name from Taito Corporation in order to produce two 78-piece limited edition watches – 78 is a tribute to the year the game was introduced.

Absolutely stunning and awesome at the same time. This definately calls out to the kid in me.

Specs:
Case: PVD Coated Stainless Steel
Diameter: 46mm
Strap: Rubber
Crystal: Sapphire
Water Resistance: 30m
Movement: Romain Jerome Caliber RJ001-A, 23 jewels, 28,800 vph, 42 hour Power Reserve