Breitling

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For the aerobatics team see Breitling jet team.

Breitling logo

Breitling is a brand of Swiss watches from the Canton of Jura. The watchmaker offers Certified Chronometers designed primarily for aviation use, though most frequently worn as high-end luxury watches. Breitling's watches offer aviation functions, though their chronograph functions have become more of status symbols than practically applied tools. They typically have a large face (e.g. the Breitling for Bentley Motors edition has a 48 mm Case Diameter) for better visibility and to allow display of more information on the analog dials. Many models feature an automatic winding mechanism that is purely mechanical (i.e. using no electronic components). A lot of Breitling watches are equipped with additional functions such as the flyback function, split-second, moon phase, date display and other complications.

All Breitling watches are manufactured in Switzerland and are made from Swiss components. Raw movements are obtained from ETA and Valjoux and are modified in the Breitling Chronometrie Workshops (former Kelek S.A.) before undergoing COSC (Contrôle Officiel Suisse des Chronomètres) certification.

Quartz models such as the Breitling Aeromarine Colt start at $1,650.00, while typical prices of mechanical, steel cased models are $7,300 (US) for the Breitling for Bentley Motors model. The expense is clearly in the 38 jewel self-winding movement as these steel cased models are more expensive than some of Breitling's Titanium or Gold models.

The Breitling Emergency version contains a highly protected and powerful radio transmitter for civil aviation use. This broadcasts on the 121.5 MHz distress frequency and serves as a back-up for ELT-type airborne beacons. For military users, Breitling has equipped the Emergency with a miniaturized transmitter operating on the 243 MHz military frequency.

Under normal conditions—flat terrain or calm seas—the Emergency's signal will be picked up at a range of up to 90 nautical miles (167 km) by search aircraft flying at 20,000 feet (6,000 m).

In an incident that demonstrates how the Emergency can be used to save lives, Reuters reports that two British pilots, Squadron Leader Steve Brooks and Flight Lieutenant Hugh Quentin-Smith, crashed their helicopter in Antarctica and were rescued after activating their Breitling Emergency transmitter watches. The two pilots were in their lifeboat when a Chilean Otter aircraft found them after homing in on signals from their watches. [1]

The Emergency is available for customers who do not hold a pilot's licence, but they must sign an agreement stating that they will bear the full costs of a rescue intervention should they trigger the distress beacon. The model was heavily advertised by the Breitling Orbiter 3—both Brian Jones and Bertrand Piccard were wearing the Emergency.

Breitling Navitimer	Breitling for Bentley Motors: Features a 30 second chronograph	Breitling Emergency	Breitling Super Avenger (48mm)
Breitling Super Avenger (48mm)

[edit] Advantages of Mechanical Movements

The mechanical movements give the watches extremely strong resistance to electrical and magnetic disturbances, with an antimagnetic rating of 80,000 A/m. In analog quartz watches, a strong enough magnetic field can depolarize or partly reorient the permanent magnets in the stepper motor. The mechanical movement is for all practical purposes invulnerable to strong electrostatic discharges, RF electromagnetic fields or by Electromagnetic Pulse (EMP), whereas a quartz watch's CMOS logic chip and stepper motors can be destroyed easily by these. The automatic winding mechanism also gives much better low temperature operational capability than an electronic watch. Breitling chronometers are typically well armored and pressure resistant with synthetic sapphire faces to further withstand shock and high pressures.