Breitling celebrates its 140th anniversary with three limited editions of the Premier, Navitimer and Chronomat collections, all equipped with the first perpetual calendar chronograph movement developed by the brand: the B19.
"140 years of firsts": this is the tag-line for a year of celebrations to mark almost a century and a half of history and to reaffirm in how many fields Breitling was also a true forerunner of the times: from the birth of the chronograph to its continuous refinement by the first two generations of the Breitling family, to the first Swiss wristwatch in space with Scott Carpenter, to the records set by its partners, such as Bertrand Piccard's Orbiter project.
The 140th anniversary year was also an opportunity to present a major innovation in the development of the brand's proprietary calibres: the B19 is the first perpetual calendar chronograph movement, making its debut in three limited edition celebratory models that are among Breitling's most iconic: the Premier, Navitimer and Chronomat. "The Premier, the Navitimer and the Chronomat are the most significant collections in Breitling's history," said CEO Georges Kern. "To present the new B19 calibre on the occasion of our anniversary, we could not choose just one, all three had to be there."
Breitling's manufacturing journey began in 2009 with the B01 chronograph calibre, a movement considered among the best on the market and not by chance also adopted by Tudor. Subsequent evolutions were the B02 calibre with the addition of the 24-hour function, the B03 calibre with split-seconds mechanism, and the B04 with GMT function. The new B19 calibre also offers an important 96-hour power reserve. Cosc chronometer-certified and equipped with a column wheel and vertical clutch for the chrono functions, it features a solid gold rotor embellished with an engraving by Breitling's historic Montbrillant Manufacture in La Chaux-de-Fonds.
Three celebratory pieces introducing Breitling's B19 calibre
Premier, Navitimer and Super Chronomat for Breitling's 140th anniversary: all with red gold cases.
The Premier B19 Datora 42 140th Anniversary is part of a line born in the 1940s that complemented the professional instruments made by Breitling for aviation, with the aim of interpreting a more elegant taste by shifting the emphasis to aesthetics and design. The anniversary edition is a classically styled specimen in red gold and black dial with a diameter of 42 mm.
The Navitimer B19 Chronograph 43 Perpetual Calendar 140th Anniversary evolves the functionality of one of the brand's most iconic chronographs created for the needs of pilots, the result of the link between Breitling and the development of world aviation. It is characterised by the slide ruleblack dial set off by an unprecedented red gold dial.
A skeleton dial for the Super Chronomat with B19 calibre
Rubber version of Bretling's Rouleaux bracelet.
The Super Chronomat B19 44 Perpetual Calendar 140th Anniversary, the sportiest of the three Breitling models, ennobles with red gold the one that in 1983 was created as the official watch of the Frecce Tricolori, the Italian Air Force aerobatic team. The ceramic inserts will gives it a dynamic character, underlined by the rubber version of the classic Rouleaux bracelet. It also introduces a skeleton dial, a first for Breitling. For all three celebratory models, equipped with the B19 calibre, the price is 55,000 euros.
