Breitling and Bentley, one of the oldest collaborations between watch and automobile brands, introduced a new collection of limited edition timepieces at this year’s Baselworld trade show. The flagship model of the collection is under our spotlight...
The ongoing collaborations between watch brands and automobile manufacturers are among the most widely used marketing techniques of luxury watchmaking today. The brand partnerships that follow the similarities between the mechanical watches and the high-tech cars and the enthusiasm of the target audience for both products continue on their way with examples from different segments.
Breitling / Bentley brand partnership is one of the oldest examples of these collaborations. I am not in a position to comment on the commercial part of the business. However, the majority of the timepieces offered under Bentley by Breitling were not the best ones I have ever seen. With their extremely large and heavy cases, flashy bracelets and busy dial, those watches were produced more like Hip Hop singers in mind rather than the leading British luxury car manufacturer. Thankfully, the recently changed management and the new models produced under the new direction are here to change the design language of the Bentley by Breitling product line.
The models in the new collection are offered in two choices as stainless steel and 18K pink gold options. Designed exclusively for the 100th anniversary of the luxury car manufacturer, the stainless steel model is limited to 1000 units while the flagship 18K pink gold model, which we have here for review, is offered in a span of 200 units only. The stainless steel version is available with a stainless steel bracelet in addition to the calf strap while the pink gold version is available with leather strap and folding clasp.
The new model comes in an 18K pink gold case measuring 42mm in diameter and 16.6mm in height. The case is equipped with scratch resistant sapphire crystals on both sides and is water resistant to 100 meters / 10 bars.
Breitling Premier B01 Chronograph 42 Bentley Centenary (Ref. B01181A1Q1X1) attracts attention with its wooden dials. Inspired by the wooden interior components of Bentley automobiles, the dial is made of brown elm burl wood with black contrasting fields for permanent seconds and 30-minute totalizer. Hour and minute hands are filled with Super LumiNOVA. The dial features a white tachymeter scale on a black inner bezel around, with a red tachymeter inscription.
The new model is powered by the manufacture Caliber 01. 47 jewels COSC certified and self-winding chronograph movement beats at a frequency of 4Hz (28,800vph) and offers 70 hours of power reserve when fully wound.
MSRP for the model is CHF 27’000.00.
