Tag: Breitling Cockpit B50
Breitling Cockpit B50
Aviation has always had a great relationship with the luxury watch business. In fact, various brands created their now-classic pieces in honor of the aircraft industry and its many prominent members. To this day, the most premier watchmakers in the world still create specially-designed timepieces for aviation. Some have even modernized the concept as the practice has been done for a multitude of decades now. A stand-out piece of this caliber is Breitling’s Professional Cockpit B50 watch.While it may not be popular, aviation is still very much a strong community even outside the transportation industry. There are even a few races that aficionados like to take part in, such as Reno’s National Championship Air Races. It was during the 2014 edition of such that Breitling introduced their Breitling Cockpit B50 replica timepiece, part of their “Professional” line. The watch made headlines among the aviation community then and it’s still popular among critics and collectors to this day.
Breitling boasts their Professional Cockpit B50 timepiece as one of the first that was created almost entirely in-house. Save from some few parts supplied by ETA, most of this watch’s features were made by the Swiss luxury label themselves. Part of its most ingenious attributes is its COSC-certified chronometer that powers the highly-accurate digital properties. The watch also has an incredible power reserve that lasts 99 hours—one of the longest of its kind and of any timepiece offered by Breitling.
This timepiece costs a few thousand bucks, which tells any consumer that it’s of the luxury kind. With that said, this particular model doesn’t necessarily reflect luxury in its overall design aesthetic. Although its titanium casing has a lot of shimmer and shine to it, it’s not enough to merit the prestigious title of a luxury timepiece. With all the buzz about it being one of the first watches made almost entirely by the brand itself, they, unfortunately, lost a few design points along the way.
The Breitling Cockpit B50 series represents the ultimate pilot’s instrument, with ultra-readable displays, broad arrays of functions and extreme user friendliness. These precision instruments are equipped with the Breitling Caliber B50 – battery operated quartz chronometer movements that power the analog and digital displays.
Breitling Cockpit B50
In-house quartz watch movements at Breitling? Pretty much, “yes,” with the new Breitling Cockpit B50 timepiece in their Professional collection of watches. OK, so let’s start by talking about the whole “in-house quartz” part of the conversation, as it is perhaps the most interesting, outside of the design of the watch. For years, Breitling has been sourcing high-end thermocompensated quartz movements from Swiss ETA. These come in a few varieties, but are contained in all the quartz movement-based Breitling watches, from their totally analog dials (three-handers and chronographs) to their various ana-digi (analog-digital) watches that have both traditional hands as well as two LCD screens. Breitling now pushes forward to create their own evolved movements based on the foundation that ETA laid.None of this means that Breilting is going to stop using ETA thermocompensated quartz movements in some of their watches (such as the famed Aerospace), but rather that they are adding a new flavor for those seeing something a bit more… ultimate. As I have said and will keep saying, I see more and more room for high-end quartz to be something collectors are interested in as well as mechanical watches. I promise you that the movement inside Breitling Cockpit B50 costs more than most basic mechanical movements Breitling uses in their standard collection of watches. In addition to having both in-house made and sourced mechanical movements, now Breitling will have similar options with their quartz movement based watches.Breitling refers to the movement in the Breitling Cockpit B50 as “in-house made.” More correctly there are some parts produced in-house, and some that are sourced from specialized suppliers. Breitling is correct to say that the movements are “exclusive” to them, given that they don’t make everything. Oh, and in addition to the watch being called the Breitling Cockpit B50, the movement is the caliber B50. Breitling appends its “SuperQuartz” term to the movement, which means that it is thermocompensated. What is that? In addition to being eligible for the stringent COSC Chronometer certification for quartz watches, it uses a system that is able to adjust for how temperature can effect the accuracy of the quartz regulator, giving overall accuracy to the movement of just a few seconds per year.
In some ways, the Replica Breitling Cockpit B50 is a scaled down version of the Breitling Emergency II watch that we debuted back in 2013. You could say that the watches are produced side-by-side, together in their Swiss factory. Both the Emergency II and the Breitling Cockpit B50 have similar case designs, ana-digi SuperQuartz movements, and rechargeable batteries. Rather than require a hefty base station for charging, the Breitling Cockpit B50 uses a magnetic connector that attaches to the left side of the case and can be charged via USB or an AC adapter.Having said that, Breitling has not given us how long the battery life is. I would expect to get at least a year on normal usage, but it is nice that you can “top off the power” when you need. One of the reasons this might be necessary is that the B50 movement likely uses a lot more power than ETA movements. I believe this to be the case because it has a very strong backlight. Not only that, but the B50 movement is designed to be able and activate the backlight when you turn your watch toward your face as a 45 degree angle. Yes, many better Casio watches have been offering this for a long time, but at least you can now have this feature in a very high-end timepiece. Just one more thing Breitling can say it has in common with the Apple Watch.In addition to the crown that acts as pusher, the B50 movement has two other pushers that act as chronograph pushers and perhaps do other things as well. Breitling seems to have added a few new features to the watch that did not exist in SuperQuartz movements designed by ETA. Standard features include the time, perpetual calendar, 1/100 of a second chronograph, alarms, battery charge indicator, countdown timer, electronic tachometer, and a second timezone. New features that I believe do not exist in some of their other similar watches that are now available in the B50 movement are a special countdown or count-up mission elapsed time (MET) indicator, and a flight time chronograph.Notice that the black LCD screens now have much more white-colored numerals, as opposed to the more greenish hued numerals on previous models. Breitling points out that the numerals are much easier to see, and that the backlight is very impressive. The Breitling Cockpit B50 dial design is very similar to that on the Breitling Emergency II. This dial design debuted in 2013 on the Breitling Aerospace EVO (hands-on here).
While this dial design is legible and has a lot going for it, I am not the biggest fan of the hands and the 12, 3, 6, and 9 o’clock numerals are a bit glossy for my taste. For a “Professional” watch, Breitling seems to be trying to add a bit too much bling. At the least, I prefer the solid, longer, more matte-finished hands seen on some of the older models.It is nice to see a “smaller” version of the case that Breitling debuted for the Emergency II. Smaller is a relative term because the Cockpit B50 is not a small watch, at 46m wide – and it ain’t thin either. With those wide lugs, the Breitling Cockpit B50 is going to wear quite large. Recall that the Breitling Emergency II watch is 51mm wide (and feels it). As you know, I am not against large watches, but in this instance, the watches will quite literally be too large for some people’s wrists.
Most of the Breitling Cockpit B50 watches will come with titanium cases, however, there is also a PVD black steel case option. We don’t have pictures of the black version yet, but it is worth noting that it does exist. You can also see that Breitling will offer a few dial colors, including gray, blue, and black. I think most people will opt for the watch in a titanium case, given that it doesn’t really cost more in titanium (actually less than the steel version), and will be much less heavy on the wrist.Attached to the Breitling Cockpit B50 watch, Breitling will offer a matching titanium bracelet, or a rubber strap for both the titanium and steel version. The case will be water resistant to 100 meters (which isn’t bad), and over the crystal is an AR-coated sapphire crystal. The rotating bezel can be used for navigational purposes. Overall, the Breitling Cockpit B50 is a pretty cool watch, and does up the ante of what you get with a high-end quartz watch. Personally, I don’t care if parts of it are made in-house at Breitling or not, but the exclusive new movement is nevertheless cool. Further, being a quartz watch, people know that it is going to be much more accurate than anything mechanical – hence why Breitling still continues to produce watches in their “Professional” collection.
How to Spot a Fake Breitling
How Much Do Breitling Watches Cost?
Cost varies by the model you purchase and the shop where you purchase it. Certain features, materials, and accessories are inherently more expensive. For instance, watches with quartz movements tend to be cheaper than mechanical versions.
Currently, the cheapest options are women’s models. Most tend to hover in the mid three to four thousand range with the bottom end price tag being about $2,750 for the Breitling Colt 36 in Volcano Black or Silver. Conversely, some of the best Breitling watches, such as the Breitling Navitimer B01 Chronograph 46, cost the same or more than a new car—upwards of $25,000.
Why Are Breitling Watches So Expensive?
The luxury price tag boils down to two things: materials and perception. Breitling uses premium materials that customers will never find in mainstream timepieces. Combine the leather strap, stainless steel case, cutting-edge machinery, and intricate design, and you have a rarified watch.
It has also earned a reputation as an elegant status symbol. Breitling products compound in value when the only owners are millionaires, celebrities, and public figures. For instance, the Breitling Navitimer’s demand outstrips the company’s ability to produce it, which in turn, elevated the price to astronomical levels.
Who Makes fake Breitling Watches?
Since its founding in 1884, Breitling has used internal and external vendors to source its product. The company started as a single shop in Switzerland, though it moved to a larger production site within eight years. Today, it prides itself on in-house manufacturing of its movements, which were used in the column-wheel chronograph Calibre B01.
Historically, the company has used outside sources for its movements. Some of the most common suppliers include ETA, Venus, and Valjoux. The shift towards in-house production has only taken place within the last decade.
How to Set a Breitling Watch?
Settings for each Breitling watch vary between models. More often than not, the functions centerpiece is the crown. It controls everything from time to date to display models.
For instance, most Breitling men’s watches have multiple display modes for the time. That includes a 24-hour military time and a 12-hour version. Rotating the crown will let you toggle between A.M., P.M., and military time.
Setting the local time and seconds are almost an identical process. Pull the crown out to the respective position before twisting it backward or forward to the desired specifications. Once the time or seconds are accurate, push the crown into a neutral position.
Some models may also come with a second-date and day-date option. Adjusting either feature involves pulling out the crow and rotating it forward or backward until set. This method is the same for synchronizing analog and digital time displays in hybrid models.
What Is the Biggest Breitling Watch?
Breitling has two lines that are 50 mm in diameter. The first, the Breitling Avenger, is an ultra-rugged clock with an aviation-inspired design. Despite its size, the watch only weighs 60 grams without the leather strap, which allows for maneuvering ease and functionality.
The other 50 mm option is the Breitling Emergency Professional line. These are the world’s forerunners when it comes to dual-frequency distress beacons. They blend technical ingenuity and miniaturization that’s ideal for professionals and outdoorsmen alike. Additionally, many of the diving watches, like the Superocean Heritage, have larger than average displays.
What Is the Most Popular Breitling Watch Model?
Depending on the source and demographics, the most popular watch varies. Historically, the Navitimer has stood as a high watermark for the company. Its stainless-steel case, rotating bezel with functioning fluid slide rule, and classic aesthetics make it a favorite among aviation aficionados.
Models using chronograph movement are also popular thanks to the company’s rich history with its innovation. Even cheaper lines, like the Breitling Colt, provide impressive chronographs with a distinct and distinguished appearance. Plus, the model has a SuperQuartz movement for additional reliable over standard quartz timepieces.
Is the Breitling Navitimer a Good Watch?
The Breitling Navitimer is one of the most revered names in the industry. Its unparalleled functionality and elegant display make it the gold standard for pilots and aviation professionals. Breitling Navitimer is designed with now-iconic circular slide rule bezel that lets pilots do all their calculations with a single tool.
For instance, pilots can determine their distances and airspeed with a single glance. Even though the Navitimer and its slide rule gained popularity before the rise of electronic calculators, it still holds merit today. That’s why it is still trusted about pilots and other aircraft enthusiasts as well as watch collectors.
Is Breitling a Luxury Brand?
While Breitling doesn’t carry the same name cache as Rolex, it is still one of the most recognizable watch brands in the world. Part of that reputation rests on its use of high-quality materials and elegant craftsmanship. Examine any version of the Breitling chronograph watch, for instance, and it will be readily apparent the time and effort necessary to make it a reality.
Breitling has also been an industry innovator time and again. The company has been a pioneer in chronograph technology since the very beginning, including having the first independent chronograph pushers in 1923. Additionally, it has earned the trust of pioneers in other fields. The Breitling Navitimer had the honor of being the first Swiss watch to go into orbit, thanks to astronaut Scott Carpenter.
Are Breitling Watches replica Good Quality?
Breitling follows a set of standards and uses premium materials in their products. That’s because they aim to suit the needs of professionals who endure extreme missions, such as deep-sea diving and military aviation. They seek to create maximum precision and protection to withstand any conditions.
The combination of functionality and form meet with top-class case metals, such as 316L anti-magnetic stainless alloy and grade 2 titanium. These metals form the crowns and push-pieces and provide water resistance, too.
The interior features complex geometric cuts that seamlessly connect for technical and aesthetic flow. While a mechanical Breitling men’s watch can last indefinitely, the company recommends to follow a regular scheduled maintenance [R]. Routine services, such as clock cleanings and battery changes, should happen every two years, while more intensive repairs and refurbishing should happen every four to six years.
Top Sale Best Replica Breitling Watches
Breitling has been a gold standard in the watchmaking industry for nearly 150 years.
Leon Breitling founded the company in Saint-Imier, Switzerland, in 1884 to fulfill the needs of aviation professionals.
Since then, the company’s products have become well-known for their precision and high-class performance, which is reflected in the quality of their watches right down to the flourished winged logo.
Today, Breitling is not only an independent leader but also one of the most successful watch manufacturers in the world.
Their products have become iconic among pilots, movie stars, athletes, and more.
If you want to see what sets Breitling apart from the competition, here are the list of watch models you want to look at.
Breitling Super Avenger II
Boldness and elegance combine to form the Classic Breitling Super Avenger II.
This 48 mm diameter watch is powerful and professional with robust construction.
It can handle water depths up 300 meters, and its screw-lock crown offers non-slip rotations.
The Breitling Avenger II also comes with automatic movement.
The self-winding mechanism is Caliber 13 and contains 25 jewels.
This automatic watch can run approximately 48 hours on reserve power.
The line comes in Mariner Blue and Volcano Black.
Breitling Navitimer World
Another automatic Breitling watch, the Classic Navitimer World, is arguably the most famous individual model in this list that high profile people search for.
It is masterclass in design and functionality with a slender and compact body and easy readability.
This automatic model shot to superstardom in the 1950s and 60s in the aviation world because of its range of efficient functions.
This vintage beauty comes with a brown leather strap and crocodile pattern.
It’s intricate dials, and polished stainless-steel case make it the perfect accessory, even with formal wear.
This Breitling automatic watch also features rotating bezel, glare-proof sapphire crystals and luminescent hands and markers for easy reading.
Breitling Exospace B55
The Breitling Exospace B55 is known for having the first with chronograph movement that can connect to a smartphone.
This classic sporty watch with rubber strap blends the company’s aviation history with modern production in a 46 mm diameter and 15 mm thickness.
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While that may sound bulky, the curved lugs and lightweight casing provide for functional and comfortable wrist wear.
It also features a unidirectional rotating bezel.
The mechanisms rely on Caliber B55 with the company’s trademarked SuperQuartz movements.
The thermo-compensated features adjust for internal and external temperatures to ensure the devices is accurate year-round.
You can expect the chronometer watch to be within 0.07 seconds per day when it comes to time.
Breitling Colt SkyRacer
The Colt SkyRacer is, perhaps, the most affordable model in this list of Breitling collection.
The simplistic design provides an aura of youthfulness and dynamic spirit that matches the rugged durability.
Even though the case is ultra-lightweight, it has the reliability to withstand rugged temperatures and depths of 100 meters in the ocean.
What makes the Colt SkyRacer unique is that it is one of the few models to forsake the traditional stainless-steel casing.
Instead, it uses the company’s proprietary Breitlight material which also blends well with the black dial and black rubber strap.
It is a plastic polymer with composite fibers for rigidity that makes six times stronger than steel and three likes lighter than titanium.
The lightweight material is also anti-magnetic, comes with basic chronography, and offers a 70-hour power reserve.
Breitling Cockpit B50
The splashy Cockpit B50 is a breath of fresh air to the traditional aesthetics of the watchmaking world.
It utilizes large blocky numerals and vibrant accents to create analog and digital displays that are as compelling as they are informative.
Beyond the aesthetics, though, the watch also offers a chronograph with flyback and split-time functions.
The Cockpit B50 is part of the company’s professional line of wristwear, which comes with COSC-certification.
That way, you can have peace of mind knowing your device is as tough as it is functional.
The Cockpit B50 comes with a 46 mm diameter and 16.45 mm thickness in black carbon-coated titanium.
Breitling Superocean II
The Navitimer is to air as Breitling Superocean Heritage is to water.
The Breitling Superocean II is especially popular among divers who value the robust 42 mm diameter and 13.3 mm thickness.
It can also handle water depths down to 500 meters.
The Breitling Superocean II is about more than water resistance, though.
It features striking numerals, and the markers are clearly visible.
That includes a countdown for the last 15 dive-time minutes, a unidirectional bezel, and features that are easy to rotate even with diving gloves.
The Breitling Superocean II comes in Volcano Black and Mariner Blue.
Breitling Chronomat B01
There aren’t enough words to adequately describe the elegance of the Breitling Chronomat B01.
The watch stands as a monumental achievement in watchmaking with an illustrious design and cutting-edge details.
The finishes have excellent precision to the millimeter with an immaculate sense of balance and weight.
The Calibre 01 watch comes with automatic movement and a tremendous 70-hour power reserve.
This watch marks a milestone for the company’s in-house movement.
Customers can also opt for displays with grey, silver, or black dials.
Breitling Transocean
Like its counterpart, the Breitling Superocean Heritage, the Transocean belongs in the water.
This classic watch draws inspiration from water enthusiasts and has roots that go back more than 60 years.
It comes with many of the same intricacies of the Navitimer along with three sub-dials of 60 seconds, 30 minutes, and 12 hours.
The Transocean is sleek and modern with a fixed stainless steel bezel and woven black strap.
Scratch-resistant sapphire crystal and a durable case backing ensure long-term endurance.
The Caliber 5 movement also comes with chronograph, world time, and GMT functions.
It also has water resistance up to 100 meters.
Breitling Chronospace
Armed with a titanium casing, the Chronospace offers military-grade durability and state-of-the-art sophistication, making it one of the best tactical watches.
The power watch comes with outstanding design and capacity to outlast the most extreme conditions.
That includes five bars of water resistance, scratch-proof displays, and SuperQuartz movement.
The Chronospace stands out for its bold appearance.
The Black Steel – Black model comes with largely dual-tone coloration, save for the company logo and digital displays.
The crisp white numerals and markers on the black background provide immediate readability.
Breitling Aerospace Evo
The Swiss company launched Aerospace Evo in 1985 on the heels of the quartz crisis.
Aerospace models are rooted in the historic Chronosport Sea Quartz UDT, which served as an inspiration.
The current line still features a chronograph with sapphire crystals and optimal functionality.
The Calibre 79 Silver comes with a SuperQuartz movement.
According to Breitling, SuperQuartz is ten times more reliable at measuring timing than traditional quartz.
It also features a multi-functional crown for elapsed time tracking as well as a grade five titanium body that is corrosion-resistant.
What Is a Breitling Watch?
Breitling is known for its luxury appeal and Swiss craftsmanship. The brand is the premier supplier of aviators around the world. It is also the only manufacturer to have a chronometer certification for all its movements.
What’s the Best Place to Buy the Best Breitling Watches?
Authentic Breitlings can be purchased on the company website and Amazon. There are Breitling watches for men and women, as well as categories based on profession, such as aeronautics, diving, and in-house movement. The current catalog includes all the models mentioned above in addition to new lines, such as the 2019 Aviator 8.
Additionally, you can find your favorite models on Amazon and other authorized retailers. You should only buy from authorized retailers to avoid getting counterfeit products. While the company is headquartered in Grenchen, Switzerland, it has stores in hundreds of brick and mortar locations around the world. Americans can find Breitling retailers from Denver to Dallas and Kansas City to Key West.
How to Spot a Fake Breitling
Wherever there are luxury watches, there are sure to be counterfeits. It’s not hard to see why counterfeiters want to skim off the top when some high-end watch brands command price tags north of a million dollars. Not only are fake watches of all brands becoming more prevalent in the market space, but they are also becoming more realistic—and so harder to spot.
The best defense is research. You should have a working knowledge of what the watch will look like and feel like before you see it. Additionally, you should know the general price range for new Breitling watches, so you can be vigilant to “deep savings” or “drastic sales.”
Counterfeit watches are made with inferior materials, which makes them lightweight. Breitling is not a featherweight brand. It is significantly more substantial than luxury counterparts, like Omega, TAG Heuer, and Rolex, thanks to its stainless steel case. Even when you place the cheapest Breitling watch on your wrist, you should feel the heft.
Additionally, counterfeiters often fail to mimic the Breitling logo. The company uses a winged anchor underneath its name. Fake watches often inadvertently leave too much space between the tip of the anchor and the wing or shorten the wings.
The technical details make it possible to distinguish Breitling products from counterfeits. That intricate design is further visible in the flourish of the second hand and the fullness of calendar letters. One final red flag is the engraving buckle, which should have deep grooves along the letters and a seamlessly smooth backside.