Two new Breitling for Bentley watches have been released at Baselworld:
The Bentley GMT Light Body B04 Midnight Carbon and
The Bentley GMT Light Body B04 S

The Midnight Carbon features Black annodized Titanium and the S features regular titanium in a smaller size of 45mm, not that 45mm is small by any standard, but small compared to its 49mm brethren. Two very cool Breitling for Bentley Models added to the collection.

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.

The next limited edition IWC Pilot Watch to commemorate the celebrated pilot Antoine de Saint-Exupéry is this new “The Last Flight” edition. It is available in three different versions all in brown silicon nitride ceramic, with proceeds from the Platinum caseback edition going to support the Antoine de Saint-Exupéry Youth Foundation.

The Platinum caseback version is a limited edition of 17, the Red Gold caseback version is limited to 170 pieces and the Titanium-backed version is limited to 1700. All have slightly different subdial colors to “match” the casebacks.

I’ve always been a fan of the IWC pilots, especially the Saint-Exupéry Limited editions. I would love to be able to get this version with the titanium.

Specs:
Case: Brown Silicon Nitride Ceramic
Case Size: 46mm x 16.5mm
Crystal: AR-coated sapphire crystal
Water Resistance: 60m
Movement: IWC in-house caliber 89361 with 38 jewels, 28,800 vph and a power reserve of 68 hours
Strap: Brown calfskin strap with quilted stitching and a pin buckle

This is the video review of my Girard Perregaux Sea Hawk II, BMW Oracle Racing edition in Stainless Steel. This is the larger 44mm case, which wears a lot better than the 42mm version. I accidentally put Titanium in the header, but it is steel. Hope you enjoy the video.

In 2015, the S3 company (Swiss Space Systems) will be organizing its first weightless ZeroG flights to a broad public. As the main partner in this project, Breitling will equip passengers with an exclusive chronograph specially designed for this experience. Registration is now open!

In 1962, Breitling made its maiden weightless flight on the wrist of Scott Carpenter with a Navitimer Cosmonaute – the first space-traveling wrist chronograph. The brand with the winged B is now the main sponsor of the Swiss project S3 (Swiss Space Systems), of which the avowed aim is “space for all”. For this purpose, S3 has notably set up a program of weightless flights. The ZeroG project will begin in 2015 in over 15 locations around the world, including Asia, the Middle East and Central America. These flights of around two hours aboard an Airbus will each include 15 “parabolas” or free floats lasting between 20 to 25 seconds and providing a chance to experience total weightlessness by floating as if in space. Passengers’ equipment will include a Breitling chronograph specially created for the occasion. Equipped with a light and sturdy black titanium case and a SuperQuartz™ movement (ten times more accurate than standard quartz), this S3 ZeroG chronograph is distinguished by its S3 logo appearing on the dial and the rubber strap, as well as by its caseback engraving depicting a parabolic flight. It will serve as a boarding card for passengers and will not be commercialized outside this flight program. Along with their flight suit, the lucky partakers in the ZeroG experience will be entitled to keep this authentic high-performance and functional instrument for professionals, water-resistant to 100 meters, as mementoes representing the equipment having accompanied them during this unique and unforgettable moment.

For more details on flights: zerog.s-3.ch.