Breitling are the undisputed master when it comes to the creation of powerful and masculine timepieces with a real sense of power, and the Breitling Avenger range has always been especially prominent in this respect. The watchword of the Avenger collection has always been ‘power in action’, and these imposing military-style wristwatches are certainly built to excel. In light of past successes, it would be easy to think that Breitling had no further avenues to explore within the Avenger range, yet they seem intent on proving such assumptions wrong time and time again.
Returning once again with a brand new addition to the Avenger family, Breitling has recently unveiled the Blackbird; a bold and functional horological instrument that exudes class through a sleek black colour scheme. The Avenger line prioritises sturdiness, practicality, precision and aesthetical sophistication above all other virtues, and the Blackbird certainly doesn’t disappoint in any of these respects.
The case is a very generous 48mm in diameter, but Breitling have nonetheless opted to fashion the Blackbird with a far more slender profile, ensuring that it is never excessively bulky. With a more ergonomic shape and inwardly curving lugs, the appearance of the timepiece is distinctive without being brash, and this is undoubtedly helped in large part by the handsome carbon-based matt black titanium used for the case and the 0-60 scale unidirectional bezel.
Additionally, the watch is very light, and utilises a Teflon-coated fabric strap that really makes it a joy to wear, and, as you’d expect from an Avenger watch, there are plenty of intricate technicalities as well. The carbon-based treatment used upon the Blackbird is incredibly durable, and also assuages the potential of any troublesome glare from excessive light sources. The cambered sapphire crystal has been similarly glare-proofed to perfection. To complement this, the numerals and hands upon the dial are outlined in luminescent, so the visibility of the Blackbird has been optimised to the highest possible extent.
Interestingly, the luminescent on the dial has been artificially-aged by Breitling, but despite this ingenious touch of style the timepiece is anything but ‘vintage’ or dated in nature. The crown of the Blackbird has been screw-locked (as has the caseback) and augmented with a non-slip function, making it eminently suitable for use in underwater environments, and this capability is further enhanced by protective guards that ensure a strong water resistance to 300 metres.
As is fitting for a timepiece that is designed to be subjected to the most extreme missions, the Blackbird houses a Breitling Caliber 17 movement. This ETA 2824-2 mechanism is chronometer-certified, beating at 4Hz and boasting 25 jewels and a 42 hour power reserve, and it is also self-winding to offer an even more sophisticated level of convenience. A newcomer to the portfolio of Breitling watches it may be, but the Blackbird is undoubtedly worthy of upholding their long-standing tradition as the creator of ‘instruments for professionals’.
Here at Banks Lyon, the Breitling Avenger Blackbird titanium watch retails at £3,760, and can be yours on 0% finance for 36 monthly payments of £83.56 alongside a 20% deposit. This outstanding beauty of a watch is the latest chapter in Breitling’s illustrious story, but our collection of Breitling watches contains a colossal number of previously released watches as well, in addition to some of their most exciting announcements from Baselworld 2014. To find out more, please be sure to contact our professional staff team by calling 01524 38 48 58 or emailing [email protected].
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