On February 1st, Fratello printed the second chapter devoted to Breitling’s Then & Now Pop-Up Museum in Zurich. In the present day, we come to the ultimate chapter, that includes Breitling’s third universe — landborne watches. As talked about within the earlier chapters, beneath Georges Kern’s management, Breitling has returned to the three universes of Air, Land, and Sea with an equal emphasis, whereas beneath the Schneiders, the model was unequivocally dominant in air-related timepieces.
To make use of Georges Kern’s phrase, “Within the Schneider period, Breitling was akin to a shark in a swimming pool.” Beneath the brand new management since 2017, primarily, this shark has returned to its pure habitat, the place it appears to have made itself very comfy. The model’s renewed dedication to Willy Breitling’s imaginative and prescient of “Breitling time within the air, on the bottom, beneath the ocean” has confirmed extremely profitable.
A product of the instances
As has been the case for many (if not all) profitable watch corporations which have managed to climate financial disasters, foreign money challenges, and the Quartz Disaster, Breitling was at all times a product of the instances. When there was a requirement for cockpit devices throughout the battle, you possibly can guess Breitling was on it. When the tendencies leaned in the direction of dive watches, Breitling innovated and developed on this route. Within the Nineteen Seventies, there was an industry-changing development in the direction of racing chronographs. Being a race automotive driver or, extra importantly, trying like a race automotive driver again then was all that.
In parallel to this, Hollywood was present process a section of releasing numerous movies that includes stars like Steve McQueen and Paul Newman, so the game of racing gained vital traction. Consequently, beneath the founder’s grandson Willy, Breitling’s racing-themed chronographs gained recognition and have become an enormous hit within the model’s catalog on the time. In the present day, and in the identical vein because the final two chapters, we might be exploring three highlights on this class. Stick round for the final one! It’s a one-of-a-kind and comfortably represents excessive horology.
Breitling Dash ref. 2013, 1972
There’s at all times controversy when mid-range and high-end watch corporations launch something utilizing resin. Watch diehards at all times throw phrases like, “low-cost,” “cash seize,” and “compromising high quality” round. Whereas resin does allow a lower cost level, the notion of a “cash seize” crumbles once we take a second to contemplate the benefits this case materials gives in comparison with extra widespread ones. The Breitling Dash ref. 2013 represents simply that. It debuted within the early ’70s when a loud aesthetic had made a grand entrance to basic designs of the time. This watch was very a lot about perform over kind, but it surely nonetheless had model.
An athlete’s instrument
Designed for athletes, the Dash emphasised lightness. This watch was additionally the inspiration for Breitling’s newer Endurance, which, because the identify implies, is one which athletes can put on with out weighing them down and compromising their endurance.
Unconventional, loud, and out of doors the field
Staying within the vein of sports activities, this watch doesn’t use the extra widespread tachymeter bezel however a pulsation scale as an alternative, permitting the consumer to verify his or her pulse with the clicking of a pusher. Just like the dial, the case of this Dash is simply as unconventional. It has a contemporary 40.2mm diameter with traces and angles very harking back to the early Nineteen Seventies.
The Dash ref. 2013 stands proudly as the quilt artwork featured on Breitling’s newly launched e-book, 140 Years in 140 Tales. This e-book, just like the Then & Now Pop-up Museum, celebrates Breitling’s spherical anniversary final yr.
Breitling Duograph ref. 764, 1970
If I might stroll out with any watch from this museum, it will be arduous to decide on some other than this extremely stunning Breitling Duograph ref. 764. It represents every little thing I like in watchmaking — innovation, steadiness, golden proportions, excessive issues, and an (admittedly subjective) infatuation with its stunning monochrome aesthetic.
I imply, simply have a look at this factor. I’ve stated it earlier than, however a manual-wind, two-register, no-date chronograph is the dream of many watch fans, together with me. Add the then-large 38.2mm stainless-steel case, and we’re left with this amazingly proportioned panda-dial Duograph.
The “uber-chronograph” caliber
Transferring on from the aesthetic, this Duograph comes with a excessive complication — specifically, a split-seconds chronograph. This implies the chronograph has two stacked central seconds palms, certainly one of which may pause and later catch as much as the opposite with a push of the crown. You’ll discover a slight hole between the crown and the case for that reason. Meaning this outsized crown has three features — setting, timing split-seconds, and winding. I ought to point out that the mixture of this Duograph’s outsized crown and lack of crown guards make it an absolute pleasure to wind.
From father to son
This specific instance was a present from Willy Breitling to his son Gregory for his twentieth birthday. Upon receiving it, Gregory was informed it was an exceptionally difficult piece, so he ought to deal with it with further care. Breitling had lengthy been well-known for creating chronographs, so what higher present might the president of the model have given his son than one in such a high-end execution?
Breitling Datora Duograph ref. 800 in 18K gold, 1944 — The one recognized instance in existence
As in chapter 2 of this collection of articles, we’ll finish the trio of offered timepieces on the plain peak. This one’s rather a lot to unpack, but it surely’s price sticking round as a result of that is nearly as good because it will get! This yellow gold Breitling Datora ref. 800 is thought to be the one instance in existence. There may be believed to have been a batch of 20 stainless-steel examples launched in 1951, however the outstanding collector and model historian Fred Mandelbaum has but to ever see one. Curiously, this timepiece was listed with two reference numbers — 800 and 766 — as a result of its 18K gold case was from the reference 766 launched in 1944. On the time of launch, this Breitling Datora Duograph was one of the difficult wristwatches ever created.
Manufacturing like the highest of the highest
Observing the case extra intently, the structure is harking back to mid-century circumstances by manufacturers within the high-end sector, that includes stepped lugs, a stepped bezel, and naturally, a valuable steel. These are options that supply little purposeful benefit however as an alternative give beginning to a resplendent design that proved Breitling might compete with the highest of the {industry}. In keeping with this beautiful case, the motion doesn’t fail to impress. Just like the earlier entry, it’s a split-seconds chronograph however, this time, with a calendar perform too.
Busy with steadiness and deliberation
To prime off the split-seconds chronograph and pointer date, this timepiece incorporates a moonphase complication on the prime of the dial. Now, regardless of the conservative case diameter and complex dial that includes a tachymeter scale, it doesn’t seem cluttered. The four-register format creates steadiness, and the hour numerals are minimize off to forestall overlapping into the sub-dials.
Setting the report straight
In 2021, Breitling launched the Premier Datora with the B25 motion. Some individuals had been screaming bloody homicide, saying Breitling had borrowed a design with which it had no historic hyperlink. Nevertheless, Breitling’s Then & Now museum serves as the right solution to rebut statements like these. Simply because the model hadn’t indulged in timepieces with these actions and designs up to now few a long time doesn’t imply they’d by no means existed. That is why this museum was such an vital endeavor for Breitling. The thought was by no means about pushing gross sales as we speak however, somewhat, as an alternative educating guests past what they know concerning the model from after they had been youthful. Breitling’s been round longer than all of us, so it’s vital for the model’s storytelling to characterize itself with the utmost historic accuracy and integrity.
Curtain name on Breitling’s Then & Now Pop-Up Museum
Talking of which, the museum will keep open till mid-Might this yr. Relatively than protecting it open constantly, it was vital for Breitling to finish the museum on a excessive notice. What would have been Scott Carpenter’s one hundredth birthday might be on Might 1st, 2025, so the model will come out with one thing very particular near this date. What higher place than Zurich’s museum to have a good time Scott’s centennial?
As I’ve achieved within the earlier chapters, I’ll encourage you another time to go to the museum earlier than it closes you probably have the chance. It’s unlikely we’ll ever have the prospect to take pleasure in this assortment of Breitling’s again catalog in the identical context once more. The subsequent massive anniversary would be the one hundred and fiftieth anniversary in 2034, so I’m excited to see what Breitling can have in retailer for then! For now, although, we are able to benefit from the museum for not less than one other extra month.
