As you may remember, the Breitling website saw a flurry of activity a matter of days before the opening of Baselworld, so this popular Swiss watch brand was quick off the mark when it came to making its intentions known. Of course, we only discussed their plans in extreme brevity in our last feature, and, having taken the time to showcase some of the releases from Omega and Bremont, we’d say it’s high time that we rectified that fact. Here is the best of Breitling at Baselworld…
The Breitling Superocean II
The Superocean collection was first introduced way back in 1957, but it’s been a staple for Breitling ever since. The Superocean II is the latest incarnation of this proud watch family, and it comes equipped with a renewed design that yields a far slimmer timepiece than current devotees of the Superocean might be used to. It’s also being created in new 36mm dimensions, in addition to the 44 and 42mm patterns. However, much may be new, including the rubber Ocean Racer strap, but the old Superocean’s mastery of the seas is still present, as water resistance in the collection ranges from 200 to 1,000 metres. The sheer range of designs on offer is also somewhat bewildering; all are ultra-sporty, but aside from that there are a cascade of colours and subtle differences to suit anyone.
The Breitling B55 Connected
Back in 2014, Breitling’s Calibre B50 was the electronic chronograph that started the journey towards a truly ‘connected’ watch. That journey has now been completed. However, as you might expect, Breitling have not settled for creating a chronograph that’s subservient to a smartphone, and have instead fashioned a way for a watch and a phone to communicate with each other whilst retaining independence. Both complement each other to achieve new feats, and adjustments can be made to either using the opposite instrument, but if anything, the watch holds the mastery within the partnership. Even when flying solo, though, the new B55 has an impressive array of complications, including an electronic tachometer and a mission elapsed time system. The aesthetics of this bold wristwatch may not suit classical tastes, but its innovation is undeniably impressive.
The Breitling Unitime SleekT
The announcement of the Breitling Unitime SleekT heralds nothing less than a freshly-realised B35 ‘in-house’ calibre, and this innovation is also significant as a result of the incredibly user-friendly operation. This seems to be a rather ongoing theme of Baselworld 2015, and this time it takes the form of an ingenious crown that allows unprecedented ease of adjustment. It’s not just function that Breitling have paid attention to either, as the never-before-seen tungsten carbide bezel doesn’t only promote enhanced durability and scratch-resistance, but also a futuristic appeal that’s purely for aesthetical pleasure. In Breitling’s own words, it’s a ‘double revolution’, and we’re not arguing.
Rather like Omega, Breitling’s Baselworld 2015 portfolio is too broad (see above) to be restricted to the confines of one article, so you’ll doubtless be hearing more about all of these watches in the coming months. However, you can find out more about these timepieces right now – including finance options – by accessing our Baselworld releases page, as well as our individual Breitling Superocean, Breitling Galactic and Breitling Professional pages. Of course, if you have questions about any of the Breitling watches listed on our website, you can also call us on 01524 38 48 58 and we’ll be happy to assist.
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