The Breitling Watch Blog

While the watch has been up on the Breitling site for a little while, Breitling did not decide to formally announce it until today, complete with a video. It is the Boutique Limited edition only available in Breitling Boutiques, though they seem to have removed “boutique” from the name on the site. The highlight feature of this watch is one you can’t see from the front, but rather the hunter-style caseback revealing the B01 in-house caliber movement.

Original from all angles

A two-tone dial with two vintage-style counters, and a double caseback complete with a cover: the Transocean Chronograph Edition limited series reinterprets the contemporary classic style of the Transocean line in a highly exclusive spirit. A tribute to Breitling’s priviledged ties with the chronograph.

Inspired by a star model from 1958 (an ultra-precise, anti-shock, anti-magnetic and super-water-resistant watch that magnificently accompanied the boom in intercontinental air travel), the Transocean reflects the spirit of great journeys and luxury long-haul aircraft. Breitling now introduces it in a limited series radiating originality. The front exudes a blend of dynamism and refinement: the dial bearing two vintage-style counters and a date window at 6 o’clock is adorned with a twinzone silver-toned décor, applied hour-markers and the 18K gold version of the B initial that served for many years as the Breitling symbol. The result is a technical, pared-down style echoing that of the finest classic chronographs. Turning the watch reveals another surprise, since the steel case is distinguished by a double back protected by a cover providing space for a personalized engraving and a sapphire crystal affording a chance to admire an exclusive ‘engine’: Manufacture Breitling Caliber 01, a high-performance selfwinding chronograph movement chronometer-certified by the COSC (Swiss Official Chronometer Testing Institute). Issued in a 2,000-piece production run, the Transocean Chronograph Edition limited series is teamed with an original steel mesh bracelet. It also comes with a leather or crocodile leather strap. Totally chronograph. Totally Breitling.

Breitling released a new special series called the Breitling Chronomat 44 Raven. Very cool watch, and it may rub a few people the wrong way mainly because the Black Steel and Display Backs were generally reserved for Limited Editions, and now both of these are found on what appears to be a regular production Breitling, albeit a special one. One of the cooler features is the blacksteel rotor engraved with orange lettering visible through the display back. That’s a touch.

From Breitling:

The embodiment of performance
A black case and dial combined with ultra-sporty orange accents. A Manufacture Breitling Caliber 01 with a décor featuring the same contrast. The Chronomat 44 Raven special series reinvents the pilot’s chronograph in an original look dedicated to performance.

Since its launch in 1984, the Chronomat has established itself as the reference among mechanical chronographs. A perfect embodiment of the Breitling philosophy, it combines a strong, unique and quintessential design with all the performances of an authentic “instrument for professionals”: precision, sturdiness, readability, functionality, as well as outstanding water resistance. This exceptional model is now issued in a special series accentuating its technical, masculine style.

The satin-brushed steel case is entirely clad in black thanks to a high-resistance carbon-based coating matching the rubber strap. The unidirectional rotating bezel features orange rubber inlaid numerals creating a powerful and ultra-legible contrast. The same bright orange touches appear on the inner bezel, the chronograph seconds hand as well as the counter pointers. Visible through a transparent caseback, Manufacture Breitling Caliber 01 also springs a surprise with its black oscillating weight enhanced with orange markings. Undeniably original from all angles, the Chronomat 44 Raven special series is equipped – like all Breitling instruments – with a selfwinding movement chronometer-certified by the COSC (Swiss Official Chronometer Testing Institute), the highest benchmark in terms of reliability and precision. The embodiment of precision.

Every so often, a watch is released that simply touches your soul, your very being and calls to you.. and you simply must have it. For me, that watch is the Panerai PAM 572 announced earlier this year and starting to become available now. This is a very sweet watch, and features the new in-house P.4000 Caliber movement with Microrotor.

Nice, versatile black dial with sweet antiqued lume arabics and indices. The 1940 case is really cool because the dial is really big in proportion to the case and gives it a neat vintage Panerai look. I would have preferred if they left the word “Automatic” off the front of the dial, or maybe they could have made it all caps. The 1940’s case is a neat cross between the Luminor case and the Radiomir case, which is one of the reasons that I really like it. It kind of gives a Radiomir feel but with some of the features I prefer like regular lugs.

That’s the sweet new P.4000 caliber movement, with the microrotor, which is another feature that has always struck my fancy. Something about a well executed microrotor has always attracted me and the fact that Panerai has decided to go that route is pretty cool in my mind since its not necessarily a popular trend. Really really want this one, and at $8,900USD, it seems like a pretty reasonable buy.

Here’s a close-up of the microrotor P.4000 movement in the PAM 573, the red gold one, which is the same movement that’s in the PAM 572 save for the finishing details.

I will be on a search for this watch as its simply too perfect for me to let slip by!!!!

Just posted up my video review of my Glycine Airman 6 Crosswise a few days back and wanted to post it up here now. Very cool 4-timezone watch at a glance, features 3 separate Swiss Automatic Movements in one giant 53mm case. Hope you guys enjoy the video!

Breitling Unleashes a new Digi-Analog caliber, the exclusively in-house designed B50, with the new Breitling Professional Cockpit B50 watch. This isn’t the first watch named “Cockpit” to come out of the Breitling Brand, but its the first that’s really designed to be worn in one! Very cool with a plug-in that allows you to hook it up to a computer USB.

The ultimate pilot’s instrument
Breitling once again establishes itself as the partner of aviation by launching a new multifunction electronic chronograph equipped with an “in-house” analog and digital-display caliber – a brand-exclusive development. Designed to accompany aviators in all their missions, this Cockpit B50 innovates through its broad range of functions, its user friendliness as well as its ultra-legible display mode. The new instrument for pilots.

Equipped with a sturdy and light case in natural or black carbon-coated titanium, the Cockpit B50 chronograph flaunts a resolutely technical, powerful and masculine appearance – making it the archetypal authentic Breitling “Instrument for professionals”. It is however distinguished first and foremost by the performances and the functionality of its exclusive new Breitling Caliber B50: a SuperQuartz™ movement ten times more accurate than standard quartz and chronometer-certified by the COSC (Swiss Official Chronometer Testing Institute), the highest benchmark in terms of reliability and precision.

Innovative functions
Designed for professionals, with a strong focus on aviators, the Cockpit B50 combines all the functions most useful in undertaking the most extreme missions. In addition to the chronograph with split-time and flyback capabilities, it notably features a second timezone display, a perpetual calendar, two alarms in buzzer and/or vibrate mode, a lap timer function as well as a countdown complete with alarm. Breitling has also equipped it with innovative functions such as an electronic tachometer, a countdown/countup system serving to switch directly from a countdown to a timing operation, as well as an eminently aviation-style “chrono flight” device which is useful for recording flight times by memorizing departure and arrival times as well as the date. Another special feature is its use of UTC (Coordinated Universal Time, the aviation reference time) as the time base, which enables the Cockpit B50 to ensure smooth juggling with timezones. The swap function can also be used to do switch between the time displayed by the hands and that of the second timezone shown on the screen, simply by pressing a pushpiece, with the system automatically taking account of a potential date change.

Simple and logical use
To facilitate the handling of its multiple functions, the Cockpit B50 is equipped with a particularly simple, logical and consistent control system, featuring function-selection via crown rotation and activation/deactivation by two pushpieces. This impeccable user friendliness is reinforced by the interface messages appearing on the screens and guiding the user through the various operations. In addition to “pilot” mode, the movement also offers a “sport” mode that temporarily reduces the number of functions available. A double press on the crown momentarily “parks” the hands so as to provide a clear view of both screens.

Ultra-readable displays
The Cockpit B50 also innovates with its digital displays guaranteeing optimal visibility in all circumstances. The two white-on-black liquid crystal (LCD) screens are equipped with a backlighting system that can be activated at a press on the crown. This high-tech device makes the indications stand out by day or night with the utmost luminosity and clarity. A true instrument panel on the wrist. A dedicated ‘tilt’ function automatically activates the backlighting when the user bends his wrist by more than 35° – an extremely practical system when at the controls of a plane or the wheel of a car. In another striking new feature, the digits are oversized and the 12 o’clock screen comprises 7 digits of 14 segments each, enabling a full display of all letters in the alphabet and thus enhanced interactivity.

A rechargeable battery
To provide the energy required for this high-performance lighting, Breitling has developed an innovative miniaturized rechargeable battery system. Recharging may be done via the electricity grid or through a USB port on a computer. Safety is reinforced by various state-of-discharge alert levels, including stuttering and stopping of the central chronograph seconds hand, as well as a “standby” mode by means of which the apparently inactive movement nonetheless maintains its temporal reference in order to be correctly restarted on demand without any need for adjustments.

Cockpit B50: the new benchmark for pilots.