We recently looked at some of the options available to you if you’re looking for the ideal watch for winter sports; rugged, durable timepieces with practical functions to help you enjoy your sport. From timing functions to tachymetre scales for assessing your speed, a watch can be very useful to a sportsperson.
However, there is another aspect to some sports, including but not limited to certain winter sports, which you may not realise that a watch can help you with – safety.
Many sports and activities come with an aspect of risk; skiing can lead to accidents, hikers can get lost in poor weather conditions, pilots and sailors can be stranded through technical problems. Throughout the world, there are search and rescue organisations standing by to help in such situations – but first they have to find you.
It has long been known by adventurers and survival enthusiasts that you can use an analogue watch as a compass, so long as there is sufficient sunlight to cast a shadow. Watches like the Alpina Alpiner GMT 24h watch make that even easier; simply align the outer bezel, marked to 360 degrees, with the current hour on the inner scale and point the hour hand at the sun; the 36 on the outer bezel will then be pointing towards the north. This can help you to work out where you are, or identify your location in relation to prominent landmarks so that you can pass these details on to rescue organisations.
Breitling, however, offer something even more practical – a watch with an integral personal distress beacon.
The Breitling Emergency II watch, released in 2013, improves and updates this by including a dual-frequency distress signal transmitter, in line with the current standards of the International Cospas-Sarsat system.
In 2009, the use of the 121.5MHz signal was phased out of the alert stage of search and rescue; the frequency is no longer actively monitored for new distress situations, as it is limited by range and signalled a large number of false alerts. Instead, the 406MHz frequency is used for the initial alert stage, because its digital signal can provide additional information and can be monitored globally. The 121.5MHz signal is still used on land and by aircraft to home in on the precise location of the signal, so a dual-frequency distress beacon using both frequencies offers the best results.
Made from durable, sturdy titanium, the Breitling Emergency II features two user-friendly antenna sections housed in the lower part of the watch itself. When the antenna is manually deployed, the microtransmitter begins alternately operating on the two frequencies, with a signal on the 406MHz frequency lasting 0.44 seconds every 50 seconds, and a signal on the 121.5MHz frequency which lasts 0.75 seconds, every 2.25 seconds.
Thanks to the innovative rechargeable battery, this signal can be transmitted for around 24 hours at 20° C or for around 18 hours at -20°C. All the user needs to do then is ensure that the watch is placed for optimal transmission and await rescue.
It is, of course, to be noted that this particular feature of the Breitling Emergency II is only to be used in the case of a real emergency; aside from the implications of calling out a rescue organisation unnecessarily, re-setting the antenna and battery of the beacon would require returning your watch for repair.
Aside from this unique feature, the Breitling Emergency II is of course a very practical and attractive wristwatch, like all Breitling’s offerings. It is chronometer rated with a chronograph complication and a very clear and easy to read face, available in three dial colours with the option of either a titanium bracelet or a rubber strap, and retails at £12,040, with 0% finance options available.
At Banks Lyon, we pride ourselves on being able to find the right luxury watch for anyone, whether you’re looking for a piece to wear up a mountain or to your next business meeting. For more information on this piece, any of the other pieces in the Breitling watches range, or any of the other brands we stock, please contact us on 01524 381020 or visit us in our Lancaster store. You can also keep up-to-date on all our news over on our Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages, as well as our YouTube channel.