The entire Breitling and Breitling for Bentley collection is on display at the Breitling Boutique in Kolkata–including chronographs equipped with Manufacture Breitling movements, special limited “Boutique Editions” and latest models
Breitling, the Swiss watch manufacturer par excellence, presented the latest models in its Breitling and Breitling forBentley collections earlier this month at the Breitling Boutique in Kolkata’s Quest Mall, the brand’s first-and-only boutique in the country.
Designed in a modern and original style highlighting the brand’s aeronautical heritage, the Boutique enables visitors the opportunity of plunging directly into the Breitling universe, a unique experience that absorbs every sense. Sight— through the highly contemporary décor combining sober wood, metal and the famous Breitling yellow – not to mention a number of original paintings by New York artist, Kevin Kelly. Touch— through comfortable seats on which the client can ask to see the models of his choice, presented on wing-shaped tables. Hearing: with Radio Breitling playing an exclusive music selection. Taste: through the spacious bar and private area for customers. And even smell, with a subtle “ambiance” perfume created especially for the brand.
The entire Breitling and Breitling for Bentley collection is on display here–including chronographs equipped with Manufacture Breitling movements, along with special limited “Boutique Editions” and the latest models introduced in the 2016 collection. Breitling is one of the rare companies to produce its own mechanical chronograph movements, entirely developed and manufactured in its own workshops. This family business is also one of the last remaining independent Swiss watch brands.
Here’s a glimpse at Breitling’s newest beauties:
With its 45 mm titanium case, its grey ‘stealth’ look, its ‘Military rubber’ strap and its high-performance mechanical movement, the new Avenger Bandit more forcefully than ever embodies daring feats and extreme missions. The light, ultra-sturdy 45 mm titanium case, a favorite metal in the field of aviation, is enhanced by protective lateral reinforcements; its satin-brushed finishes eliminate any undesirable glinting in the heat of action. The dial is distinguished by its gray color with tone-on-tone counters accentuated by a finely snailed raised motif; it features vigorous aviation-inspired stencil-type numerals, with a luminescent coating ensuring excellent visibility further enhanced by the thick sapphire crystal glareproofed on both sides. The bezel, also adorned with engraved stencil-type numerals, stands out with its four rider tabs (a classic Breitling signature feature) serving to memorize times. Water-resistant to 300 m/1,000 ft, it houses a selfwinding chronograph movement: Breitling Caliber 13, officially chronometer-certified by the COSC (Swiss Official Chronometer Testing Institute).
This new multifunction electronic chronograph equipped with an “in-house” analog and digital-display caliber is 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. It is distinguished first and foremost by the performances and the functionality of its exclusive new Breitling Caliber B50: a SuperQuartzTM 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.
In creating its first connected chronograph, Breitling has applied a new philosophy, placing the smartphone in the service of the watch. The chronograph remains the absolute master and the connection is primarily designed to improve its functionality. Two-way communication enables the two instruments to form a perfectly complementary pair in which each is used for what it does best. Owners of the Exospace B55 can use their phone to perform adjustments (time-setting, timezones, alarms, display and operating parameters, night mode) and conversely, upload from the chronograph to the smartphone the results of various measurements (flight times, recorded times with split times, lap times, etc.) to read them more easily, store them or pass them on.
Known above all for its resolutely masculine models (that also delight many women with a passion for aviation), Breitling is also brilliantly capable of interpreting this spirit in the feminine mode. The new Galactic 29 is unquestionably feminine in terms of its 29 mm-diameter size,making it the smallest Breitling model. Its womanly charm is also expressed through a number of refined details such as mother-of-pearl dials, gemset bezels, diamond-hour-markers and rose gold versions. Fitted with a fluted crown that facilitates handling, the case is water-resistant to 100 m (330 ft), a rare feat for a ladies’ watch. The Galactic 29 is available in a number of distinctive versions, including one fitted with a tungsten carbide bezel.
A cult model among pilots and aviation devotees since 1952, the Navitimer chronograph steps things up a notch in a version entirely clothed in black: from its satin-brushed steel case coated with an ultra-resistant carbon-based treatment to the famous circular slide rule serving to handle all operations relating to airborne navigation. Yet this original, modern and technical exterior is not its only distinctive feature. Instead of the three silvered counters on the classic model, the dial bears two tone-on-tone counters: small seconds at 9 o’clock and a chronograph 30-minute totalizer at 3 o’clock. An authentic instrument panel, created using the “par épargne”technique on a sterling silver base, enhanced by red accents in the shape of small counter pointers and a central sweep-seconds hand. The Manufacture Breitling Caliber 01 high-performance movement, chronometer-certified by the COSC (Swiss Official Chronometer Testing Institute), comprises a black oscillating weight visible through a transparent caseback. Further accentuating the aeronautical touch, the black case and dial are fitted with a sturdy and comfortable all-new rubber strap bearing an aircraft tire-tread pattern and now available on all Navitimer models. The legend lives on.
A tribute to Breitling’s rich history, the Navitimer 1884 limited series combines the famous 1952 aviation slide rule with a calendar featuring a pointer-type date display and twin day/month apertures for which the brand was renowned in the 1940s. 1884 is first and foremost a date: that of the founding of Breitling by Léon Breitling, a keen devotee of chronographs and precision instruments. 1884 is now a watch, a limited series of the famous Navitimer perfectly summing up Breitling’s vocation and its range of passions. This model features an interesting practical detail in the shape of a 9 o’clock small seconds subdial providing an additional 24-hour “military-time” display much favored by pilots and which also facilitates calendar adjustment by distinguishing between day and night. Issued in a 1,884-piece limited series, this Navitimer 1884 stands out with its generous 46 mm case accentuating the character of the design, as well as optimizing dial readability. In addition to the choice of a bracelet or a leather or crocodile leather strap, this model is also available with a new black rubber strap featuring an aircraft tire-tread motif.
Black and white aviator-type watches ensuring excellent readability are well-known instruments and divers are now being treated to their very own “ocean pilot” featuring a black steel case, black ceramic bezel and a black dial bearing large luminescent indications enabling them to plunge safely to a depth of 1,000 m (3,300 ft). The watch is equipped with a safety valve serving to equal out the differences in pressure inside and outside the watch. The brand-new rotating bezel in shiny black ceramic, a particularly resistant high-tech material, guarantees an accurate dive-time count-off. Its unidirectional rotating system avoids any inadvertent extension of the measured time in case of wrong handling, while the ratcheted profile ensures an optimal grip even with gloves. Thanks to the red-tipped seconds hand with its small luminescent triangle, the diver can at any stage check at a glance whether the movement is operating. The sapphire crystal glareproofed on both sides further facilitates readings even in the heat of action.
