Archive
Thank you for rating this article
Breitling for Bentley Limited Edition
2011-02-11 18:15
What:
Breitling for Bentley GMT Limited Edition
Where:
Zegg and Cerlati, Place du Casino, Monte Carlo
Research published this week reveals that fewer and fewer of us are wearing wristwatches, preferring to check the time on our mobile phones. While this may be statistically true, there’s one area in which wristwatches maintain two distinct advantages over their pocketed rivals: they look better when worn, and you can consult them while driving.
Combining both plus-points, Swiss watch manufacturers Breitling have produced a special limited edition chronograph to coincide with the launch of the sophisticated new
Bentley Continental GT coupé.
Like the car, this new timepiece is both exclusive and highly collectible. Issued in a limited 1,000-piece worldwide edition, the watch is distinguished by its matching chapter ring and rubberized strap in British Racing Green. It's not the first Breitling to make use of the colour - the SuperOcean Heritage Chronograph, for example, is available in a similar scheme. But the Bentley GMT 38-jewel edition is altogether special, reflecting the car’s classic styling, with a handsome black and silver face, and bezel adorned with an elegant raised and knurled motif. The movement is Breitling Calibre 47B, officially certified by the Swiss testing agency COSC.
Breitling have long been renowned for their high-end timepieces, but also for their association with instrumentation for aircraft, so it’s no surprise to find that the in-dash clock of the new Bentley also bears the famous Breitling signature. Interestingly, the companies’ partnership is perhaps best expressed by a happy coincidence: historically, both have sported a famous ‘flying B’ logo.
But like a kilt, not everyone can get away with wearing a Breitling. Famously ‘big’ watches, they have a near-heroic status. Worn by test pilots, astronauts and naturally Sean Connery (in Thunderball) these are very much ‘man-of-action’ pieces. Aspiring Bonds will want to take note of the 24-city world time bezel and the 100-metre water-resistant casing.
Of course, design collaboration between car and watch manufacturers is nothing new. Some even create their own, such as the Porsche Design P'6930, which picks up iconic elements from the Carrera GT. But for Bentley lovers, there’s no greater tribute than Breitling’s watches, and no better time to take a look at this and others in their Bentley GMT and Supersports range.