London | United Kingdom
When it comes to luxury brands there are three main categories. The first; trendy. These are brands to chase the ‘trend’, they tend to become huge, larger than life, and then in a few months (perhaps a few years if they are lucky) slip back into the dark ocean of the forgotten. The second is the re-inventors. These brands constantly have to rebrand, refocus and rework their looks, ethos and culture to stay relevant. Then you get the trend-setters. These luxury brands, while keeping their designs relevant and sometimes ahead of the pack, might add fashionable elements but the brand always remains true to itself. One of these trend-setting brands is the luxury watchmaker Breitling. The name itself evokes images of luxury, refinement and elegance. The new Breitling Premier Collection is no exception.
Held at a private launch in London, the new Breitling Premier Collection was introduced to VIPs, members of the press and selected guests. The new collection consists of ‘five distinct models whose elegance is worthy of their historic name and whose quality and performance are pure Breitling.
Commenting on the new collection Breitling CEO, Georges Kern commented:
“This is the first modern Breitling collection dedicated to everyday elegance. With outstanding quality and performance, these watches bear our unmistakable brand DNA, but they have been created with a focus on style that beautifully complements their purpose.”
Although their history, Breitling has gained a reputation to produces some of the finest aviation and divers’ watches on the market. The new Breitling Premier collection is, however, going back to its roots with all five models has been made specifically for use on land. This collection takes its design inspiration from the Breitling Premier watches that were manufactured in the 1940’s. The era that we find ourselves in currently is a reflection on those times. With economic uncertainty and global conflicts, the watches, like the great films from this period, became a way of escapism through elegance. Perhaps a subconscious confirmation that civilisation, fine arts and refinement was not crumbling but alive and well. As such, the new Breitling Premier Collection offers us the same in a time when escapism is so desperately needed.
Premier Automatic 40
The Breitling Premier Automatic 40 is a study in understated style. Perhaps more than any other watch in the new collection, it evokes Breitling’s elegant watches from the 1940s. Inside its stainless-steel case is the Breitling Caliber 37, a self-winding mechanical chronometer movement. It is available with an anthracite, blue, or silver dial. Each dial option is available with either a nubuck or alligator leather strap or a stainless steel bracelet. The clean dial is encircled by a white minute track and elegantly finished with a small second subdial at 6 o’clock.
Watch Movement
Caliber: Breitling Caliber 37
Diameter: 25.6 millimeters
Depth: 5.6 millimeters
Winder: automatic with dual-acting ball-bearing rotor
Power reserve: at least 40 hours
Balance frequency: 28,800 a/h or 4 hertz
Display: hour, minute, small second
Certification: COSC-certified
Case
Material: stainless steel
Diameter: 40 millimeters
Height: 11.40 millimeters
Water resistance: up to 10 bar (100 meters)
Glass: sapphire, convex, double anti-reflective
Caseback: solid, screwed
Crown: non-screw-locked, two gaskets
Dial/Hands
Anthracite, blue, or silver
Super-LumiNova® luminescent hour and minute hands
Strap
Alligator leather or nubuck strap with folding buckle or stainless-steel bracelet with folding clasp
Premier Automatic Day & Date 40
The Breitling Premier Automatic Day & Date 40 displays not only the time but, as its name suggests, also the day of the week and the date, which are located at 12 and 6 o’clock, respectively. Powering this automatic wristwatch is the Breitling Caliber 45 self-winding chronometer movement. The Premier Automatic Day & Date 40 watches are available with either a black or a silver dial and feature either a stainless-steel bracelet or a nubuck or alligator leather strap with white stitching.
Watch Movement
Caliber: Breitling Caliber 45
Diameter: 29 millimeters
Depth: 5.05 millimeters
Winder: automatic with dual-acting ball-bearing rotor
Power reserve: at least 40 hours
Balance frequency: 28,800 a/h or 4 hertz
Display: hour, minute, second, date, day of the week
Certification: COSC-certified
Case
Material: stainless steel
Diameter: 40 millimeters
Height: 11.40 millimeters
Water resistance: up to 10 bar (100 meters)
Glass: sapphire, convex, double anti-reflective
Caseback: solid, screwed
Crown: non-screw-locked, two gaskets
Dial/Hands
Black or silver
Super-LumiNova® luminescent hour and minute hands
Strap
Alligator leather or nubuck strap with folding buckle or stainless-steel bracelet with folding clasp
Premier B01 Chronograph 42 Bentley British Racing Green
Forming part of the new Breitling Premier Collection, the Premier B01 Chronograph 42 Bentley British Racing Green celebrates Breitling’s long-standing partnership with Bentley Motors, the producers of the world’s most admired luxury automobiles. Formerly presented in the separate Breitling for Bentley collection, this model and future Bentley limited editions will be introduced in Breitling’s existing watch families. Powered by the Breitling Manufacture Caliber 01 mechanical movement, which is visible through the transparent caseback, the watch has an impressive 70-hour power reserve. This watch features a striking British racing green dial and is available with either a stainless-steel bracelet or a British racing green leather strap, which matches the dial. The contrasting subdials are located at 3 and 9 o’clock, while the date window is at 6 o’clock. Further features that distinguish this watch from all others are the engraved plate inscribed with the Bentley name on the left side of the case, inspired by the dashboard of the supercharged 1929 “Blower” Bentley, and the transparent caseback that is enhanced with a metalized Bentley logo.
Watch Movement
Caliber: Breitling Manufacture Caliber 01
Diameter: 30 millimeters
Depth: 7.2 millimeters
Winder: automatic with dual-acting ball-bearing rotor
Power reserve: at least 70 hours
Number of components: 346
Balance frequency: 28,800 a/h or 4 hertz
Chronograph: ratchet wheel control, vertical coupling, 30-minute and 12-hour counters
Display: minute, second, window date
Certification: COSC-certified
Case
Material: stainless steel
Diameter: 42 millimeters
Height: 13.65 millimeters
Water resistance: up to 10 bar (100 meters)
Glass: sapphire, convex, double anti-reflective
Caseback: screwed steel, sapphire glass
Crown: non-screw-locked, two gaskets
Dial/Hands
British racing green with contrasting fields for permanent seconds and totalizers
Strap
Leather strap with folding buckle or stainless-steel bracelet with folding clasp
Premier B01 Chronograph 42
The Premier B01 Chronograph 42 models, equipped with the Breitling Manufacture Caliber 01, are the flagship watches in the new collection. Developed in-house by Breitling, the Caliber 01 has established itself as one of the finest mechanical watch movements in the world. The self-winding, chronometer-certified chronograph has an impressive power reserve of over 70 hours. The Breitling Premier B01 Chronograph 42 is presented in a robust 42-millimeter stainless-steel case with a transparent caseback, and is available with a dark blue or silver dial. The blue-dial version offers the choice of either a blue alligator leather or brown nubuck strap with white stitching or a stainless-steel bracelet. The silver-dial model is available with a black nubuck or alligator leather strap or a stainless-steel bracelet. The clean dial design features contrasting black subdials with a chronograph minute counter at 3 o’clock and a small second subdial at 9 o’clock, along with a date window at 6 o’clock. Each model has a white tachymeter scale on a black inner bezel around the dial.
PREMIER B01 CHRONOGRAPH 42 SPECIFICATIONS
Watch Movement
Caliber: Breitling Manufacture Caliber 01
Diameter: 30 millimeters
Depth: 7.2 millimeters
Winder: automatic with dual-acting ball-bearing rotor
Power reserve: at least 70 hours
Number of components: 346
Balance frequency: 28,800 a/h or 4 hertz
Chronograph: ratchet wheel control, vertical coupling, 30-minute and 12-hour counters
Display: minute, second, window date
Certification: COSC-certified
Case
Material: stainless steel
Diameter: 42 millimeters
Height: 13.65 millimeters
Water resistance: up to 10 bar (100 meters)
Glass: sapphire, convex, double anti-reflective
Caseback: screwed steel, sapphire glass
Crown: non-screw-locked, two gaskets
Dial/Hands
Silver or blue with contrasting fields for permanent seconds and totalizers
Super-LumiNova® luminescent hour and minute hands
Strap
Alligator leather or nubuck strap with folding buckle or stainless-steel bracelet with folding clasp
Premier Chronograph 42
Breitling has built its reputation on its great chronograph watches, and the Premier Chronograph 42 models continue this proud tradition. Their superb performance is assured by a Breitling Caliber 13 chronometer movement. The Breitling Premier Chronograph 42 features chronograph minute and hour counters at 12 and 6 o’clock, respectively, as well as a small second subdial at 9 o’clock. The Premier Chronograph 42 features a 42-millimeter stainless-steel case and is available with either a blue or a black dial featuring a white tachymeter ring with a black scale. This stunning Premier model offers the choice of either an alligator leather or nubuck strap with white stitching or a stainless-steel bracelet.
Watch Movement
Caliber: Breitling Caliber 13
Diameter: 30 millimeters
Depth: 7.9 millimeters
Winder: automatic with unilaterally acting ball-bearing rotor
Power reserve: at least 42 hours
Balance frequency: 28,800 a/h or 4 hertz
Chronograph: mechanism control, oscillatory mechanism coupling, 30-minute and 12-hour counters
Display: hour, minute, second, date
Certification: COSC-certified
Case
Material: stainless steel
Diameter: 42 millimeters
Depth: 13.80 millimeters
Water resistance: up to 10 bar (100 meters)
Glass: sapphire, convex, double anti-reflective
Caseback: solid, screwed
Crown: non-screw-locked, two gaskets
Dial/Hands
Black or blue
Super-LumiNova® luminescent hour and minute hands
Strap
Alligator leather or nubuck strap with folding buckle or stainless-steel bracelet with folding clasp
The New Breitling Premier Collection Image Gallery
Images: Harold Cunningham
