Everyone knows how popular sports watches are nowadays, and among sports swiss watches, watches related to “ocean” and “aviation” are even more popular. Today I want to talk to you about the watch industry. The aviation table of the “fighter”. Among all kinds of aviation watches, I personally prefer Breitling.
In Breitling’s more than one hundred years of watchmaking history, the exploration and implementation of aviation watches have always been carried out. Combining years of aviation watchmaking experience, it has given prominent characteristics to brand products.
“Aviation Computer” Breitling
If one word is used to describe Breitling’s profound history and outstanding achievements in the field of aviation watches, it is “aviation computer”.
The first aviation chronograph launched by Breitling
The love relationship between Breitling and aviation watches can be traced back to 1915. Gaston Breitling developed the first chronograph watch, providing the first aviation chronograph watch for the pioneers of flight, and also for Breitling’s in-depth research on flying watches. Foundation.
When the time came to 1932, Breitling ushered in the third generation of Willy Breitling, the head of Breitling. With his youthful vision and bold ideas, he foresaw the future of Breitling in the blue sky, so he opened up a new field for the brand, namely aviation. Timing field. He also led the founding of the “Huit Aviation Flight Department”, which designs sophisticated cockpit instrument panels for the fledgling aviation field. Breitling has since risen to fame and is favored by aviation professionals, especially senior officers of the Air Force.
Twenty years later, in 1953, Breitling launched a new type of flight instrument AVI 765 pilot watch, which was presented in a wearable form. “Pilot” watch, and affected the shape and performance of later pilot watches. In 2020, Breitling launched a 1953 replica of an AVI 765 watch, which fully reproduced antique watches. Compared with the prototype model, the replica watch has only two significant differences: one is the removal of the word “Geneve” on the dial, and the other is that the water resistance is increased to 30 meters, which has a high collection value.
And this year, Breitling used the “Co-Pilot” Ref. 765 AVI pilot watch and four legendary fighters (North American P-51 Mustang fighter, Water F4U Corsair carrier fighter, Curtis P-40 Warhawk fighter and De· Havilland Mosquito Bomber) for design inspiration, launched the new Super AVI series watch, which is also the first series of Breitling legendary aviation watches.
Charm from flying
Breitling CEO George Cohen said: “This series of watches embodies a nostalgia for the early aviation era, when pilots relied on watches as an onboard tool. But even if you are not a pilot or a fan of vintage airplanes, I can appreciate its extraordinary craftsmanship and sturdy design.” These remarks illustrate Breitling’s emphasis on the new Super AVI series, and also reflect the brand’s confidence in the quality of the series.
Retro aesthetics, unique design
The Super AVI series watches are based on the brand’s century-old aviation watchmaking experience and have designed many iconic features for the watch models.
The case size is 46 mm, continuing Breitling’s usual tough guy style. Corresponding to the “large diameter” are the “large hour markers” and the “large crown”. The dial and bezel are engraved with clear and easy-to-read capital Arabic numerals. The oversized crown is located at 3 o’clock. It can also be easily adjusted with thick aviator gloves.
The two-way rotating bezel is decorated with knurled pits, which can provide the wearer with the best grip.
The brand equips this series of watches with a calfskin strap. The stitched style is intended to pay tribute to the stitching on the leather flight suits of that era, with all the details.
The Super AVI series launched by Breitling this time contains five different styles with distinctive features. Next, we will introduce these watches one by one.
Aviator 8 Curtis Warhawk Fighter Watch
The Super AVI P-51 Mustang fighter watch pays tribute to the all-around fighter North American P-51 Mustang fighter in two different styles. One has a stainless steel case with a black dial, and the other has a 18K red gold case. Equipped with an anthracite dial to meet the different styles of players.
The Super AVI Tribute Water F4U Corsair Carrier Fighter Watch inspired by the paint of navy fighter jets uses a blue dial. The timer is the same color as the dial, echoing the ocean elements.
In 2019, to commemorate the partnership with the iconic P-40 Warhawk fighter manufacturer, Breitling launched three Aviator 8 Curtis Warhawk fighter watches, which aroused unanimous praise from players.
This year, the Curtis Warhawk fighter element is applied to the watch again. The Super AVI Curtis Warhawk fighter watch is equipped with a military green dial with a white timer and red decorations. The color contrast is sharp, showing the famous The art style of shark mouth is highly recognizable.
The bezel of the Super AVI Mosquito Bomber watch is more unique. It is made of polished and satin-finished black ceramic. The orange and red elements of the hands and the white sub-disc are not only reminiscent of the De Havilland Mosquito Bomber. Discs and marks.
Self-produced movement with outstanding performance
The new Super AVI series watches not only have excellent appearance, but also remarkable in terms of performance. Like the aviation watch launched by Breitling before, it also has a timing function. There are 30-minute counters, 12-hour counters and small seconds counters at the 3, 6, and 9 o’clock positions of the dial, and the date display window is located at 6 o’clock, with complete functions.
In addition to the timing function, Breitling also added a GMT function for it. Pilots or other travelers can check the time in the second time zone through the 24-hour mark on the inner bezel and the red pointed Greenwich Mean Time hands.
Through the back of the watch, we can see the Breitling-made B04 movement carried by the watch. This movement is one of the few automatic mechanical chronograph movements that can perfectly provide convenient dual time zone display. It has an exclusive patented system that can be used to eliminate differential gear gaps, making time zone changes smoother and more convenient and will not cause any interference with minute, second time and chronograph. In addition, the B04 movement has been certified by the Swiss Observatory and can provide approximately 70 hours of power reserve and is water-resistant to 100 meters.
As fake Breitling Creative Director Sylvain Benilon said, “We cannot forget that Breitling created aviation tool watches such as the AVI 765 model. This tradition is so powerful that we must not only keep it intact, but also Re-write it in the 21st century.” From its first entry into the aviation field to becoming an undoubted “aviation computer”, Breitling has experienced a century of journey. The launch of the new Super AVI series of watches symbolizes Breitling’s exploration of aviation watches. To a new level, and its fate with aviation continues.
