Powered by the Caliber B19 movement, Breitling celebrates its 140th anniversary with three new takes on its iconic Premier, Navitimer and Chronomat timepieces.
Doing anything for almost two and a half centuries is no easy feat – especially when it comes to surviving in the often-competitive world of Swiss horology. Yet Breitling has done it in spades and celebrates its 140th birthday with new releases of three of its most endearing models.
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Powered by the Caliber B19, Breitling’s first perpetual calendar chronograph movement, which boasts a power reserve of 96 hours (not too shabby), the new flagship Premier, Navitimer, and Chronomat timepieces, each of which is limited to 140 units.
Breitling is one of only a handful of independent watch companies still producing its own manufacture movements, something it’s been doing since 2009 with the arrival of the Breitling Manufacture Caliber 01. The new Caliber B19 is the brand’s first exclusive perpetual calendar movement, a chronograph that features a full calendar and moonphase.
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The movement’s solid-gold rotor is even decorated with an engraving of Breitling’s historic Montbrillant building in Switzerland, which was both a factory and the residence of three generations of the Breitling family.
The new additions include the Premier B19 Datora 42 140th Anniversary, a homage to the original Premier, which made its debut in 1943 as the watch that took the chronograph out of the cockpit and into society. It was the gentleman’s chronograph, a symbol of good taste that also happened to also be highly functional.
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The anniversary edition in solid 18k red gold retains the Premier’s distinctive Arabic numerals, contrasting minutes scale, and signature square pushers. The strap is black alligator leather with elegant tone-on-tone topstitching and an 18k gold folding buckle.
The new Navitimer B19 Chronograph 43 Perpetual Calendar 140th Anniversary continues the story of the original Navitimer, the first watch for pilots that combined a chronograph with the brand’s proprietary wrist-worn circular slide rule. Originally developed in 1952 for members of the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA), the Navitimer quickly found favour with a broader audience that included celebrities and astronauts—in 1962 it became the first Swiss wristwatch in space.
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The anniversary edition features the famous slide rule in black on an attention-grabbing 18k red-gold dial. The strap is alligator leather with contrasting topstitching and an 18k gold folding buckle.
Finally, the new Super Chronomat B19 44 Perpetual Calendar 140th Anniversary hints at the first Chronomat, launched in 1983 as the official watch of Italy’s aerobatics team, the Frecce Tricolori. The popularity of its design led to a wider release a year later.
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The anniversary edition features the model’s distinctive design with four raised rider tabs at the 15-minute marks, an “onion” crown, and a rubber version of the model’s classic Rouleaux bracelet. Ceramic inserts give it a supercharged look. Plus, it marks another first for Breitling: a dramatic skeletonized dial.
Each anniversary limited edition is presented with a sumptuous suede-lined wooden watch box that can be configured to display up to three timepieces. Additional features include a drawer for storage and a removable travel pouch.
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Owners will also receive a deluxe edition of the book Breitling: 140 Years in 140 Stories (Rizzoli, 2024) personalized with their selected anniversary piece on the cover and showcasing Breitling’s illustrious heritage in vivid storytelling and photography.
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