Breitling Classics

KEEPING TRACK OF THE TIME

A distinctive celebration of design and freedom: Breitling’s Top Time Classic Cars Capsule Collection pays homage to classic sports cars from the 1960s.

This unconventional trio of racing chronographs draws inspiration from the Chevrolet Corvette, the Ford Mustang, and the Shelby Cobra, three icons of the American car culture. The timepieces themselves are a nod to the original 1960s Breitling Top Time models, which were designed for “young and active professionals”. Today’s modern-retro interpretations are perhaps even more youthful and free-spirited.

These disruptive chronographs with a motoring twist stand out for their bold dial colours with orange and yellow or red and blue touches and racing-themed watch straps in calfskin leather.

Engraved stainless-steel casebacks showcase each car’s logo in impressive detail, and the chronograph pushers punctuate the dial. All three watches are water-resistant up to 10 bar (100 meters).

The range includes the Top Time Chevrolet Corvette in red and black, based on the striking design of the Corvette C2 from the mid-1960s, often referred to as the “Sting Ray” by aficionados. Interesting fact: Carmaker Louis Chevrolet was a Swiss racing driver born in the watchmaking city of La Chaux-de-Fonds.

Then there’s the green and brown Top Time Ford Mustang version, inspired by a car developed in record time in 1964, sparking a new genre of compact and affordable sports cars. It soon reached iconic status at the hands of rock stars and Hollywood actors and also played an iconic role on the silver screen.

Last but not least there’s the Top Time Shelby Cobra version in blue and brown. The mood board for this watch revolved around the formidable machine created by the iconic American race-car driver and manufacturer Carroll Shelby for 1960s competitions, which mixed classic British chassis design with American racing ingenuity and engineering. The watch hints at one of its distinctive paint jobs: blue with white racing stripes.

The 42 mm cases of the Chevrolet Corvette and Ford Mustang versions house the COSC-certified Breitling Caliber 25, a selfwinding 1/8th of a second chronograph movement with a power reserve of about 42 hours. Both watches feature a tachymeter scale and three black contrasting subdials. Their dials display the car logos at the 12 o’clock position.

Inside the slightly smaller 40 mm Top Time Shelby Cobra beats the COSC-certified Breitling Caliber 41, a self-winding 1/4th of a second chronograph movement with a power reserve of approximately 42 hours. It has a white tachymeter scale and two white contrasting subdials, plus the Cobra logo at the 6 o’clock position.

But this racing heritage isn’t about rushing around. Instead it’s about a vehicle that delivers a sense of freedom and joy. So much so that you might even lose track of the time...

PATROUILLE DE FRANCE

Patrouille de France is the French Air and Space Force’s official aerobatic display team, created in 1953. Its mission is to represent the French Air and Space force abroad, acting as an ambassador for French aviation and for France itself. Considered as one of the most precise and aesthetic acrobatic flying teams in the world, the patrouille de France has flown around the world with grace and elegance for more than 67 years. Every year it continues to impress and move new generations of spectators.

Comprising 9 pilots and 35 engineers, the patrouille de France manages an annual agenda with a military precision approach. Its time is split between winter, which is dedicated to training, and summer which is spent demonstrating at air shows. It traditionally opens the Bastille Day parade in Paris, with nine Alpha Jets.

Now, Bell & Ross is honoured to raise the patrouille de France insignia amongst its professional accolades. The professional instrument that Bell & Ross has designed for the patrouille de France prove its ability to meet very specific needs.

The armed forces’ requirements and specific demands pushed manufacturers to go even further regarding reliability, readability and functionality. Each parameter - case diameter, special functions, water resistance, day and night readability, legible indexes, oversized numerals, precision, autonomy, shock and temperature resistance, anti-magnetic cases, rotating bezels - becomes a key factor when a military institution chooses a watch. The life as a military or civilian pilot is punctuated by time. During aerial shows, the pilots travel at speeds of between 300 and 800 kilometers per hour and are spaced just two to three meters apart. At these speeds, the slightest error could be fatal. Every second is critical to the pilots. Time is a crucial factor in allowing maneuvers to be executed flawlessly in complete safety. Their watch is the essential tool for piloting and mastering this millimetric time.

Bell & Ross worked closely with the pilots and designed a chronograph which is perfectly adapted to their operational needs, the BR 03-94 PATROUILLE DE FRANCE.

Produced in 500 pieces, this limited-edition is available to the public. The dial of the BR 03-94 Patrouille de France proudly and elegantly bears the patrouille de France insignia. The circle represents the cohesion of the operational unit and its ability to tackle every aspect of a situation.

The gold of the emblem’s background is a colour widely used in military insignia. The nine jet silhouettes evoke nine Fouga Magister (former patrouille de France’s aircraft before the Alpha jet) and represent their signature aerial display formation also known as the “Concorde”.

The tricolor banner which wraps the logo symbolizes the French coloured smoke and acrobatic evolutions of the flying team, “ambassador” of the French Air and Space Force. More than just a logo, this emblem is highly symbolic and depicts the values embodied by the pilots that are accuracy, reliability, discipline, control along with solidarity and humility.

PASTEL PARADISE CAPSULE COLLECTION

Breitling’s latest seasonal creation for women is a fresh reincarnation of a classic. What started as a 1950s divers’ watch has evolved into a fashionable timepiece for women ready to jump into summer.

The Superocean Heritage ’57 Pastel Paradise Capsule Collection is all about colour, proportion, and of course substance. Its 38-mm stainless-steel case features a rotating bezel and bold indices.

“This modern-retro tribute to the original SuperOcean is an exciting addition to the Breitling family of ladies’ watches. Of course it’ll look great at work, but its fun-in-the-sun vibe might make you want to spend a weekend at the beach,” says Breitling CEO Georges Kern, noting how the highly-coveted original was a nod to the rising popularity of seaside leisure in the 1950s and 1960s. That laid-back vibe is reflected in the sunny dials of today’s Pastel Paradise - enjoying the moment with your hair blowing in the breeze.

The palette for this seasonal women’s Capsule Collection is summer white, aquamarine, mint green, and iced latte - all with tone-on-tone dials, bezels, and straps. But the real show-stopper is the rainbow tangerine version. With hour markers and hands coated in Super-LumiNova®, it sings in hues of yellow, green, blue, indigo, violet, red, and orange. If you want a custom colour combination, you’ll love the quick-exchange system for swapping out the luxe Saffiano calfskin leather straps, which also come in lemon and raspberry sorbet.

At the heart of each watch beats the COSC-certified Breitling Caliber 10 with a power reserve of about 42 hours. And even if these timepieces seem too elegant for exploring a coral reef, it’s good to know that they’re water resistant up to 100 meters.

One look at this collection and you might be thinking: “It’s always summer somewhere.” But even the best summers have to end sometime. The Superocean Heritage ’57 Pastel Paradise Capsule Collection will be produced for a limited time during this summer season only. Just something to keep in mind whether you prefer sunrise yoga on the beach or socializing over sundowners.

SAILING THE MEDITERRANEAN SEA WITH HUBLOT

Mare Nostrum! This summer will see Hublot adopt the Roman name for the Mediterranean Sea. From Spain to Turkey, via Greece, France and Italy, Hublot taken to the waves on a voyage to open a series of new boutiques offering their own limited edition pieces.

Immortalised in Carlo Vanzina’s unforgettable film “Sapore di mare” (Time for Loving), the Tuscan seaside resort of Forte dei Marmi is now home to a brand new boutique. The opening marked by the launch of a watch specially designed for the occasion: the Classic Fusion Chronograph Boutique Forte dei Marmi. Available in a limited edition of 35 pieces, this 45mm diameter model is notable for its beige case, dial and rubber strap. It is powered by the calibre HUB1143, a chronograph movement with a 42-hour power reserve.

The jewel of the Tyrrhenian Sea, the island of Capri is famous for its stunning landscapes, its palaces, its many yachts and the prestigious Rue Vittorio Emanuele, which is home to the Hublot boutique. Here, customers can purchase the Classic Fusion Chronograph Boutique Capri, a 30-piece limited edition model. Its titanium case is topped with a ceramic bezel whose azure colour echoes that of the skies above the Bay of Naples. The striated rubber strap and the chronograph counters, which sit either side of the white dial, are in this azure same colour.

Heading East to Mykonos, with its beaches, its nightclubs... and its now traditional Hublot summer watch. Unveiling its tenth model dedicated to the famous Cyclades Island. Based on the iconic Classic Fusion Chronograph, this 2021 version marries dark blue with the warmth of rose gold, recalling the sunset enjoyed daily by Mykonians. A bladed rotor on the dial symbolises the Kato Myli - the island’s iconic windmills.

Further East still and you will find a new boutique in Bodrum. Built using stone from the Mausoleum at Halicarnassus, one of the seven wonders of the ancient world, the city faces the Aegean Sea, whose sparkling colours inspired a new 25-piece limited edition Hublot watch. The dial and strap of the Classic Fusion Chronograph Boutique Bodrum are in blue, which is beautifully complemented by the white chronograph counters and strap stitching. Its 45mm titanium case houses a Hublot calibre HUB1143 movement.

The party island of Ibiza now also boasts a brand new Hublot boutique. Offering the Classic Fusion Chronograph Boutique Ibiza; inside its blue ceramic case sits a self-winding chronograph movement that beats to the rhythm of the Ibiza night at a frequency of 4 Hz, or 28,800 vibrations per hour. Its dial features the Flower Power symbol - the island’s emblem. Peace and love!

It wouldn’t be a Mediterranean party without including the South of France. Façades as blue as the waves, wooden walls reminiscent of boat decks, rope handles and jute rugs: Hublot’s southern boutiques in Saint-Tropez and Monaco have a distinctly seaside feel, capturing the urge to get away from it all after a particularly gloomy spring and summer. Why not cast off for a trip round the south of France with Hublot.