As a model, Breitling is synonymous with the world of aviation, and whereas 2024 marks the corporate’s one hundred and fortieth anniversary, it additionally represents the twenty fifth anniversary of the Breitling Orbiter 3 voyage, which was the primary nonstop balloon flight around the globe. To rejoice the historic mission and Breitling’s position as a sponsor, the Swiss producer has created a particular anniversary version of its signature Aerospace analog/digital hybrid watch. Crafted from titanium and that includes a vivid orange dial, the brand new Breitling Aerospace B70 Orbiter introduces a brand new high-accuracy quartz motion to the gathering, and it additionally options an precise piece of the well-known Orbiter 3 balloon embedded inside its caseback.
Whereas the core aesthetic of the Aerospace stays largely unchanged, the brand new Breitling Aerospace B70 Orbiter is in the end a really completely different watch than the earlier technology of the mannequin. Whereas the case remains to be comprised of titanium and measures 43mm in diameter with 22mm lugs, it’s now barely bigger at 12.95mm thick with an general lug-to-lug profile of 52.25mm. Just like the earlier sequence of Aerospace Evo watches, the highest of the case is furnished with a sapphire crystal surrounded by a bidirectional timing bezel, whereas water resistance is available in at 100 meters to guard towards most types of moisture contact. Nonetheless, in contrast to the earlier technology, the edges of the case on the brand new Breitling Aerospace B70 Orbiter are barely carved out to scale back weight and create a distinctly trendy look.
Arguably the largest replace to accompany the brand new Breitling Aerospace B70 Orbiter might be discovered on the right-hand aspect of its case. On earlier Aerospace fashions, all operations have been carried out with the multi-function crown, though the brand new Aerospace B70 Orbiter has a further pair of oval-shaped pushers flanking the crown to supply elevated entry to the assorted features of its motion. Moreover, slightly than that includes a stable caseback like different quartz Breitling watches, the brand new Breitling Aerospace B70 Orbiter has a sapphire show window in its screw-on caseback, which showcases an precise piece of the Orbiter 3 balloon that first traveled around the globe 1 / 4 of a century in the past.
The dial of the brand new Breitling Aerospace B70 Orbiter is completed in a vivid shade of orange with a radial gradient impact that darkens to black in the direction of its periphery, and it options the gathering’s signature structure with a pair of centrally-mounted analog fingers, massive Arabic numeral hour markers, and two LCD screens which are tasked with displaying the superior performance of its inner motion. The colour orange was chosen as a nod to the colour of the Orbiter 3 capsule that held the 2 crew members, and in case you have a look at images taken throughout the voyage, additionally, you will discover a Breitling Emergency with an orange dial on the wrist of Bertrand Piccard, who piloted the Obiter 3 balloon with Brian Jones on its historic journey across the globe.
Whereas the structure of the dial is identical as what might be discovered on the earlier technology of the Aerospace, the Breitling Aerospace B70 Orbiter is powered by a brand new high-accuracy SuperQuartz motion. Formally often known as the Breitling Manufacture Caliber B70, the brand new thermo-compensated quartz motion is a COSC-certified chronometer, and it affords ten instances the accuracy of a regular quartz wristwatch. Simply as you may anticipate, the Breitling Cal. B70 affords an assortment of features that embody a 1/one hundredth of a second chronograph (with split-time and flyback performance), together with a countdown timer, second timezone, two alarms, lap timer, and perpetual calendar. Whereas the battery lifetime of the Cal B70 is pretty brief at simply two years, the motion does embody an end-of-life indicator to inform homeowners when the ability is operating low, and for the reason that chronograph on the Aerospace is digital, it will probably observe occasions as much as 99 hrs, 59 minutes, and 59 seconds.
Just like different current-production Breitling fashions, the brand new Aerospace B70 Orbiter is out there with the choice of both a rubber strap or an identical titanium bracelet. The bracelet affords Breitling’s signature slanted three-link design with completely brushed surfaces, and primarily based upon the preliminary press pictures, the titanium bracelet seems to be largely the identical as what might be discovered on the earlier technology of Aerospace watches. In the meantime, the rubber strap is black with an identical titanium folding clasp, and slightly than having the “Breitling” identify embossed into it in massive letters like what might be discovered on the model’s Endurance Professional sequence, the rubber strap is Breitling’s different type that has a raised middle part with woven textured segments on both aspect, and this seems to be the identical type that one can find on Breitling’s current-generation Superocean dive watches.
Given its upgraded motion and commemorative caseback that features an precise piece of the Orbiter 3 ballon, the brand new Breitling Aerospace B70 Orbiter is barely costlier than the prevailing Aerospace Evo fashions, though the extra premium is comparatively minimal, and the brand new mannequin is accompanied by an official retail value of $4,700 USD when bought on the rubber strap and $4,900 USD ought to patrons go for the model with an identical titanium bracelet. Whereas it will be pure to imagine that the brand new Aerospace B70 Orbiter could be a restricted version (particularly contemplating that it features a real piece of the Orbiter 3 ballon in its caseback), Breitling has made no indication that this will probably be a limited-edition mannequin. Moreover, provided that it has been fairly a couple of years for the reason that Aerospace assortment obtained a significant overhaul, I wouldn’t be shocked if the brand new Aerospace B70 Orbiter was a preview of what we’d anticipate from the subsequent technology of Aerospace watches. For extra data on the Breitling Aerospace B70 Orbiter, please go to the model’s web site.
