B for Breitling, B for Bentley …

Aug 30, 2013,03:05 AM

(B for Basel ... Berlin) … C for chronographs …

Breitling is known for their chronographs, today and even more when we talk about vintage pieces. They didn´t always have their own movements but even than they have been very innovative. For example: Did you know that the first two-pusher chronographs came from Breitling? Patent-Nr. 105532 from 1923, for a pocket watch. Patent-Nr. 172129 & 175564 from 1934, for a wrist watch. Today we think it is something special to see a chronograph without two-pushers, aren´t we

We had the pleasure to see quite a few gorgeous vintage examples (chronographs & more) from a fellow Purist, in the last few months.

Today I would like to share some pictures from Basel 2013, some taken by me and some additional from Breitling.

This year Breitling for Bentley celebrates ten years on the road with three new chronographs equipped with in-house motors.

(Novelties from left to right: B04 GMT, B05 Unitime and B06)

Bentley B04 GMT – a watch for people who live and communicate across all longitudes, with Manufacture Breitling Calibre B04. To adjust the main hour hand to local time, the user can simply pull out the crown and turn it in either direction in one-hour increments. This is achieved without any loss of precision in terms of the minutes, and with automatic forward and backward date adjustment. Meanwhile, the red-tipped hand continues to show home time in 24-hour mode, thus enabling the user to distinguish between day and night.

Diameter: 49 mm.

Just in case you don´t know their official website, there is a very nice tool (or toy ) called configurator. It helps you to decide which case, dial … strap/bracelet you prefer. My choice in that case would be the “all-black” leather strap.

Bentley B05 Unitime - a worldtime chronograph powered by an innovative Manufacture Breitling movement with a patented mechanism. Thanks to its double-disc system, this instrument boasting unprecedented user friendliness enables instant reading at any given moment of the time in all 24 timezones. Upon changing timezone, simply turning the crown forward or backward in one-hour increments serves to correct all indications in one smooth gesture, with the date automatically adjusted to local time. The 24-city bezel comprises indications serving to take account of “summer” or Daylight Saving Time (DST). The black or matt white dial is adorned with an artistically sculpted globe accentuating the travel theme. The COSC certified movement is driven by a highly original oscillating weight shaped like a wheel rim and visible through the transparent caseback.

Diameter: 49 mm.

Bentley B06 - an exclusive chronograph with Manufacture Breitling Calibre B06. Its ingenious “30-second chronograph” system, inspired by a Breitling patent dating from 1926 and based on a central hand sweeping around the dial in half a minute – thereby ensuring extremely accurate 1/8th second time readings. Another world-exclusive feature is the “variable tachometer” with a rotating bezel serving to calculate average speed whatever the time elapsed, the distance covered or the speed reached. The knurled motif on the bezel, a nod to the famous Bentley radiator grilles, is picked up in the openworked dial revealing glimpses of the high-performance engine. This decidedly original approach continues on the reverse side of the watch that is fitted with a transparent caseback revealing a spectacular 360° sculpted oscillating weight evoking the shape of a wheel rim.

Diameter: 49 mm.

Almost like rims, can you see the brakes? No, but the engine

Additional watches on display …

Bentley Light Body Midnight Carbon – Limited to 1.000 pieces. A light titanium chassis with a highly resistant carbon-based coating.

Diameter: 49mm.

The dashboard-style dial bears two exclusive technical Breitling signature features accentuated by red indications : an ingenious “30-second chronograph” system ensuring extremely precise 1/8th of a second readings; and a “variable tachometer” serving to measure average speed whatever the time elapsed, the distance covered or the speed reached.

BENTLEY MOTORS T (Limited Edition)

Created for devotees of special series, the Bentley Motors T chronograph is instantly recognisable by its satin-brushed bezel bearing an engine-turned motif – an original motif found on the dashboard controls of certain exceptional Bentley sports cars. The caseback also carries a magnificent surprise in the form of a raised engraving depicting the silhouette of three of the most legendary Bentley cars: the Speed 6, the R-type Continental and the Continental GT.

Diameter: 49mm.

Bentley GMT - With its asymmetrical lugs and integrated strap or bracelet, the Bentley GMT stands out for its original and bold design, combined with a multiple timezone display system and an exclusive “30-second chronograph” mechanism.

View in 360°, once more a nice toy … ehhh tool.

Bentley 6.75 - In tribute to the biggest Bentley engine, the famous 6.75 litre version powering the luxurious Mulsanne limousines, the Bentley 6.75 chronograph embodies a nice blend of tradition and innovation – exactly like the mechanical masterpiece after which it is named. Its selfwinding chronograph movement, officially chronometer-certified by the COSC, stands out for its original “large-aperture calendar” system displaying the date in a highly readable manner via two distinct indicators: one for the tens and the other for the units. The dials come in various colours of the Bentley livery options, as well as in an exclusive black version with an openworked vertical motif. The latter is shown below and to me it is the nicest one.

Diameter: 49mm.

Final conclusion :

Once more Breitling presented a very strong and consistent collection, with convenient technical solutions and amazing details. One can see their professionalism and passion, easily. My heart is much closer to their automotive activities instead of aviation, but I am missing something below 49mm. It is just too big for quite a few, isn´t it?

Gentlemen, we are ready just in time for the weekend …