Breitling has become the first luxury watch brand to conduct the launch of a new product whilst airborne.
The Breitling Chronomat Airborne was unveiled on an Emirates A350 flight, some 35,000 feet above the earth. What more could you expect from a company that holds the title of official supplier to the world of aviation?
A significant upgrade on previous models, the new Chronomat features a satin-brushed rotating bezel and four raised rider tabs to aid pilots in calculating flight times.
Designed to work under the fluxing pressure changes that are inevitable in aviation, these resilient timepieces boast practicality as well as style. It is now water resistant for up to 500m and features a dial that comes in either black with silver counters, or silver with black counters.
The event also marked the 30th anniversary of the Chronomat model. Each watch is engraved with “Edition Spéciale 30e Anniversaire” to signify this landmark. A statement of the brand’s heritage, the watch accumulates its years of expertise.
Hosted on the top deck of an Emirates Airline A380, press and collectors viewed the timepiece in all of its splendour. The plane itself is considered the world's largest passenger aircraft, but there was only a select number of people travelling for the exclusive Breitling event.
Aed Adwan of Breitling Middle East, explained to reporters: "Breitling and aviation adventure goes hand in hand and what we enjoy most is having the opportunity to share our passion with the world, both through our watches and our conquests in the sky.
“This unique launch event ensures that we are continuing this tradition, and it is appropriate that we are doing this in the Middle East, a region thatsimultaneously boasts some of the world's finest airlines as well as a reputation for demanding products of the highest standard and quality."
As a specialist brand, Breitling has strived to maintain its reputation over the years. Creating watches for aviation may seem like a niche market, yet thousands across the world recognise the craftsmanship and engineering it takes to create a timepiece with such precision. It is this immaculate design that has brought Breitling to the masses.
All of the company’s watches are integrated with chronometer-certified movements, ensuring the highest accuracy. Every component fitted within a Breitling watch has been crafted in a workshop in Switzerland.
Breitling’s reputation for innovation stretches back to 1915 when it originally championed the idea of wearing watches on the wrist and developed the first independent chronograph push-piece. Later in 1923, the brand fashioned the watch without its stop/start function, creating something similar to the timepieces we wear today.
Originally catering for the timing of sports, flight times and general precision, Breitling really became the pioneer for aviation when it designed onboard watches to be displayed in cockpits. The armed forces and commercial services of the day spoke highly of the watches, which propelled Breitling further into the world of aviation.
The exuberant celebration of the newest model doesn’t come as any surprise for the company that has continued to soar since 1884; for Breitling the sky truly is the limit - for now.
If you’re looking for a Breitling wristwatch, consult our website for assistance in finding the perfect designer timepiece for you.
