Tag: breitling premier chronograph 42
Breitling Premier Replica Watch
The Breitling Premier dates back to the 1940s, when the original timepieces were highly regarded as powerful fashion statements combining elegance and performance. Today the Premier endures as one of Breitling’s core collections and a symbol of the brand’s history.
Breitling’s partnership with Bentley Motors can be traced back to 2002 when the iconic automobile brand was designing its legendary Continental GT. Bentley commissioned Breitling to create an onboard clock that would reflect the unparalleled luxury, peerless quality, and extraordinary performance of the new grand tourer, which made its debut in 2003. The values that have always defined the partnership between the two world-leading brands are once more on display with the Premier Bentley Mulliner Limited Edition. As its name suggests, the new Breitling watch has close links to Bentley’s Continental GT MullinerConvertible.
Georges Kern, Breitling’s CEO, says that the new chronograph underscores one of his brand’s most important partnerships: “The Premier Bentley Centenary Limited Edition that we launched a year ago was warmly received both by Bentley and Breitling fans. The Premier Bentley Mulliner Limited Edition, with its clear links between Bentley’s and our DNA, is a logical next step in our shared story. It is also a testimony to Bentley Mulliner, whose name is synonymous with heritage, craftsmanship, and outstanding performance.”
Adrian Hallmark, Bentley Chairman, and CEO commented: “The long-standing relationship between Bentley and Breitling is a reflection of the values we both share and our dedication to world-leading performance, luxury, innovation, and refinement. The links between the new Premier Bentley Mulliner Limited Edition watch and Bentley’s Continental GT Mulliner Convertible are evident in the exquisite engraving detail of the watch and the design features that reference the Breitling clock on the GT’s dashboard – a perfect display of Mulliner craftsmanship.”
Bentley’s Mulliner workshop is an extension of Mulliner, a family company that can be traced back to carriers and saddlers in 1559, just one year after Elizabeth I came to the throne. However, real prominence came to the family in 1760, when Francis Mulliner was commissioned to build and maintain carriages for the Royal Mail. In 1870, Francis’s son, Robert Bouverie Mulliner, started his own coachbuilding company called Mulliner London Limited – sharing his father’s restless pursuit of perfection. For nearly 150 years, Mulliner has been renowned for its bespoke handcrafted coaches, created to the highest standards to meet the exacting requirements of its customers. Mulliner first began coachbuilding for Bentley in 1923, before entering into a partnership with the automotive brand in 1959, and for more than sixty years the workshop has given life to Bentley’s creativity and to its customers’ dreams. Each Bentley Mulliner model is a product created with an exquisite level of detail.
A Breitling watch worthy of the Bentley and Mulliner names has to be a very special product indeed. The new chronograph has some close links to the interior of the Bentley Continental GT Mulliner Convertible, the most luxurious GT ever designed, and particularly to the Breitling clock in the luxury automobile’s dashboard.
The Breitling Premier Bentley Mulliner Limited Edition is limited to 1000 pieces. It features a 42-millimeter stainless steel case presented on a blue alligator leather strap, echoing the Imperial Blue leather interior of the car. Its elegant silver dial recalls the Bentley Continental GT Mulliner Convertible’s dashboard clock. The watch features blue subdials – a 30-minute counter at 3 o’clock and a small-second subdial at 9 o’clock – an indication revealing the presence of the Breitling Manufacture Caliber 01, with an impressive power reserve of approximately 70 hours. The dial features a white tachymeter scale on a blue inner bezel around the dial, with a red tachymeter inscription.
The links between the watch and the clock are further strengthened by their complementary sets of Arabic numerals: the dashboard clock features the numerals at 12, 3, 6, and 9, while the watch has them at 1, 2, 4, 5, 7, 8, 10, and 11. Sharing these numerals across the two pieces is a nod to the design DNA they share. The red second hand and centered 60-minute scale mirror the red stitching found throughout the interior cabin of the Bentley Continental GT Mulliner Convertible.
On the left side of the case is a plate with an engraved “Bentley” inscription, whose design is based on the engine spin dashboard found in historic Bentleys. Around the watch’s transparent sapphire case-back is an inscription that reads “MULLINER EDITION – BREITLING – ONE OF 1000”. The Breitling Premier Bentley Mulliner Limited Edition is a COSC-certified chronometer.
Representing the pinnacle of luxury grand touring, the Continental GT Mulliner Convertible builds on the success of two other Bentley First Editions from the centenary year: the GT Number 9 and the GT Convertible Number 1 limited editions. A perfect display of Mulliner craftsmanship, the Mulliner Convertible is the only Continental GT to have a Breitling-edition clock in the car. Its silver face mirrors that of the Premier Bentley Mulliner Limited Edition watch. Blue, red, and white accents highlight the importance of British design.
While Breitling’s partnership with Bentley Motors can be traced back to 2002, there are historic links between the companies that go back even further. Willy Breitling, the visionary watchmaker, and grandson of founder Léon Breitling was a committed Bentley owner who, from the late 1940s, was a familiar sight on Swiss roads behind the wheel of one of his beloved Bentleys. Willy, a man with flawless design instincts and stylish personal flair, could not have imagined driving another automobile.
While Bentley is known for its luxurious road cars, the brand also has an impressive history on the track. Between 1924 and 1930, the famous Bentley Boys won the 24 Hours of Le Mans race five times. That success, however, did not simply remain a part of the brand’s past. In 2003, Bentley returned to Le Mans, taking the first two places. At that edition of the world’s most famous endurance race, Breitling was Team Bentley’s proud main sponsor and created a limited-edition chronograph, the Bentley Le Mans, to celebrate the feast.
When it was launched in 2018, the Breitling Premier replica collection reintroduced a name that held a special significance for the prestige watch brand. In the 1940s, Breitling introduced its first collection of truly elegant watches, which were defined by their fashionable flair. The new Breitling Premier collection combines purpose with style, delivering quality, performance, and timeless design that are worthy of the watch brand’s proud legacy.
The original Breitling Premier watches made powerful fashion statements and provided the perfect accompaniment to the remarkable changes taking place all over the world during the 1940s. The new Premiers extend that legacy, reflecting Breitling’s heritage and the historic design of the watches, but they also demonstrate an urban flair and a passion for excellence. They express a proud history, yet will never go out of style. Their elegance, performance, and quality are everything one would expect from Breitling, which, now more than ever, is an authentic brand for individuals of style, purpose, and action.
The Breitling Premier watches inspired by the partnership with Bentley hold a privileged place in the collection. No luxury car brand in the world better reflects the essence of the Premier family, with its elegance and flair, its performance, and its timeless design.
Premier In the 1940s, Breitling launched the original Premiers, watches dedicated to everyday elegance. Now, the new Premier collection introduces models whose elegance is worthy of their historic name and whose quality, performance, and design DNA are pure Breitling!
Breitling Premier B01
Premier In the 1940s, Breitling launched the original Premiers, watches dedicated to everyday elegance. Now, the new Premier collection introduces models whose elegance is worthy of their historic name and whose quality, performance, and design DNA are pure Breitling! Featuring a column wheel and vertical clutch, the B01 chronograph operates smoothly and is designed to last (Breitling offered a five-year warranty way before many peers did). As trite as it may sound, pushing the rectangular pushers is so satisfying on a tactile level.
Visible through the exhibition caseback is the Breitling Manufacture Calibre 01 movement, also known as the B01 for short.
The Premier B01 Chronograph 42 delivers a timeless elegance that is not typical of other Breitling models. Equipped with a powerful, modern in-house movement that shows superior rate results, it is worth taking a fresh look for anyone who has ever found Breitling watches to be too bold.
The Breitling Premier B01 Chronograph 42 is versatile, remarkably well finished to the point that it punches above its weight, and a welcome addition to an underserved category of dressy chronographs. I spent quite a bit of time with the blue dial variant and it was as natural a fit when I was wearing a Fred Perry polo and a pair of Birddogs as it was when I attended a wedding in a tan Gucci suit. If you’re a person who depends on your watch for a personality, then this likely isn’t the watch for you. Rather, the Breitling Premier B01 Chronograph 42 is the final touch that underscores a subtle point.
The Breitling Premier B01 Chronograph 42 brings exceptional finishing, thoughtful proportions, handsomely versatile design, and an in-house movement to the table for a price of $8,500. That’s a lot of value, and Breitling has continually exceeded my expectations for the past two years.
My admiration for Georges Kern-era Breitling is no secret, at this point, but I was a little anxious at the initial release of the Premier Collection. The photos made the watch look a little too safe and conservative, and while that remained largely true in the weeks I’ve worn the watch, I have found myself not using either of those descriptors as a pejorative. The history of modern chronographs from Breitling is a long and elaborate one, with a lot of strong personalities involved. Between the Chronomat and Navitimer alone, let alone others, there is a lot of expectation that comes along with being a chronograph from Breitling.
The Premier B01 Chronograph 42 was an exercise in the importance of restraint in design, understanding proportions, and finish quality. The result is one of the most balanced pieces Breitling has ever made. The Premier B01 Chronograph falls within the “vintage-inspired” Premier collection, but I actually don’t really feel beholden to that general parlance. Rather, it’s a watch I’d see on Don Draper’s wrist — the closest I can get to nailing down its identity. I think it is intentionally designed and marketed to underscore the personality and style of the wearer, rather than try to add personality and style to the wearer.
It’s all about case finish, design, and proportions with an impressive in-house movement from Breitling. The model I chose to wear is the blue dial with blue alligator strap, though there are several varieties like the panda dial, gray and black, and that green-dialed Bentley edition that I love so much.
Measuring 42mm-wide and 13.65mm-thick with a lug-to-lug measurement that is a hair shy of 50mm (I believe technically closer to 49.95mm), the case is water resistant to an impressive 100M. When organizing my thoughts on this watch, I remembered what our David Bredan said about the bezel and case profile when the watch was first released. He wrote then:
Having spent so much time with the Premier B01 Chronograph, I can attest to all of this being not just accurate but what makes the watch so appealing. None of these finishes and design decisions are unique in contemporary watches, but few peers in this price ~$8,500 category attempt, let alone accomplish.
It’s the little things that make a cohesive final product stand out, and the crown on this watch is one of those things. The crown has distinctly large and deep knurling that I could immediately tell was made for modern-sized fingers. So many watches force me to have to almost pinch the crown when using it, making me feel like I’m setting a child’s toy. Not here, though. Also, the crown is thankfully not screw-down and is simple enough to operate. One pull of the crown sets the date and another pull sets the time. The date aperture and hands are responsive and don’t suffer from the oversensitivity and jumpiness that too many others do.
I was not surprised to later learn that Breitling created this crown specifically for the Premier B01 Chronograph — it absolutely shows. Again, it’s a level of thoughtfulness and attention to detail that you don’t often see from brands of this size.
Seeing two color tones (blue and gray, in this case) on a Breitling dial is an indication that it houses one of the brand’s in-house movements. Visible through the exhibition caseback is the Breitling Manufacture Calibre 01 movement, also known as the B01 for short. Introduced just about a decade ago now, the COSC-certified B01 was Breitling’s first in-house chronograph movement and is now considered the gold standard for contemporary chronograph movements both among its price bracket as well as a bracket above.
Featuring a column wheel and vertical clutch, the B01 chronograph operates smoothly and is designed to last (Breitling offered a five-year warranty way before many peers did). As trite as it may sound, pushing the rectangular pushers is so satisfying on a tactile level. Seriously, if you find yourself passing by a Breitling boutique and have some time on your hands, go and check it out in person. It’s nothing new or innovative, but the feel of the pusher and the engaging of the column wheel here really is a masterclass in what a modern chronograph should offer.
Beyond the chronograph functions, the B01 also has a hacking seconds mechanism as well as quick-set date. Made of 346 components including 47 jewels, the B01 operates at 28,800 vph (4Hz) and has a 70-hour power reserve. It’s an ideal chronograph movement that ranks up there among the best in the industry.
The landscape of true competitors of the Breitling Premier B01 Chronograph 42 isn’t very broad, but there are certainly some notable peers. The Omega Speedmaster ’57 (around $9,000) comes to mind with its 41.5mm-wide case, two-chronograph sub-dial layout, and classic looks. However, the Caliber 9300 movement is a bit dated at this point and doesn’t approach the B01. However, the Speedmaster Racing Master Chronometer ($8,450) while sportier, is outfitted with the Master Chronometer Caliber 9900 which is METAS-certified and is a much closer competitor to the B01.
Breitling Premier
Premier In the 1940s, Breitling launched the original Premiers, watches dedicated to everyday elegance. Now, the new Premier collection introduces models whose elegance is worthy of their historic name and whose quality, performance, and design DNA are pure Breitling! 1940s Breitling Premier vintage advertisement The Premier originally launched back in 1943, when it catered for the refined, jazz-inflected lifestyle of Europe’s beau monde. This new incarnation modernises the brief while still recalling the mid-century elegance of its forebears.
The Breitling Premier Special Edition combines purpose with style, delivering quality, performance, and timeless design in a distinct new colour combination, with the Watches of Switzerland Group logo inscribed onto the transparent case back. The exclusive new Premier is a chronograph with a commitment to everyday elegance, 2020 Breitling’s Latest Limited-Edition Watch Is a Blue-Hued Revamp of the Premier B01 Watch The new version has a new colorway.
Breitling Premier Automatic 40. The Breitling Premier Automatic is an elegant execution of a classically styled dress watch. It evokes the elegance of the 1940s. The case is stainless steel and carries the Breitling Caliber 37, an automatic mechanical chronometer movement.
Breitling has made a 150-piece limited edition Premier B01 Chronograph to support its long-standing partnership with the Watches of Switzerland Group. There will be 50 available in the United States for Mayors and Watches of Switzerland,
Breitling Premier watches you’re looking for, we feature Breitling Premier for sale by dealerships around the world. Our search technology instantly finds Breitling Premier for sale from our database of thousands of luxury and exotic watches.
The new Premier Automatic Day-Date (40mm with Breitling Caliber 45 and priced at $4,450). Initial Thoughts Historically interest has been solely in its aviation and professional watches, but as this new collection proves, Breitling wants to “fish in a bigger pond,” as Mr. Kern says.
The Breitling for Bentley Premier Mulliner Limited Edition takes inspiration from the also newly launched Bentley Continental GT Mulliner Convertible. The launch dates may coincide, but the watch also signifies the 17-year partnership between the two marques. The Breitling and Bentley collab has endured longer than any other car and watch brand.