Bentley and Breitling celebrate their illustrious 17-year partnership with the new Chronomat watch, a bold and brilliant mechanical statement destined to appeal to today’s men and women who enjoy sports, active pursuits – and style.
The Breitling Chronomat was introduced in 1984, when extra-thin quartz timepieces held sway. Breitling placed a bold bet on an impressive mechanical watch that proved to be a winner and became an icon of its era. Nearly 40 years later, the redesigned Chronomat is truly an all-purpose sports watch, but one which can travel from the beach to the red carpet in the same day, and look perfectly at home in either setting.
The timepiece’s features recall the classic namesake from the 1980s. The Chronomat Bentley has a 42-millimetre stainless streel case with a green dial and black contrasting chronograph counters. The watch, presented on a stainless steel Rouleaux bracelet with a butterfly clasp, features a ‘BENTLEY’ engraving round the transparent sapphire caseback.
Adrian Hallmark, Bentley chairman and CEO, commented: ”Both Bentley and Breitling share illustrious heritages which have been the bedrock of future world-leading technological and design developments for our brands. From the onboard technology which defines Bentleys as the ultimate luxury grand tourers, to the passenger environment that maximises comfort and unrivalled luxury, our new range of models all derive inspiration from our history while driving our vision forward into the future. The new Chronomat Bentley exemplifies this commitment to honouring our authentic values while creating a new and enduring icon for today’s modern customers.’’
The new Chronomat collection celebrates a significant time in Breitling’s history while projecting a clear vision for the future. When launched it marked a welcome return to mechanical Swiss watches, which had all but disappeared when quartz watches dominated the marketplace in the 1970s.
Inspired by the Frecce Tricolori watch, which had been developed and launched in 1983 in collaboration with the famed Italian aerial squadron of the same name, the Chronomat celebrated Breitling’s centenary in style and marked the return of the mechanical chronograph on which the brand had built its global reputation. The Chronomat became the ultimate sports-chic watch of its era, an expression of striking aesthetics and confidence that made the chronograph “cool” again.
While the Breitling Chronomat range has long been established as the watch of choice for aviators, it also found a dedicated following among enthusiastic adventurers on land and at sea. Today’s passionate and active Bentley customers will be equally drawn to the new Bentley Chronomat, which perfectly reflects both brands’ commitment to creating authentic, everyday luxury for men and women who are enthusiastic about a modern life of active pursuits and enjoyment of forward-looking style. The new timepiece capitalises on the original’s design elements and spirit.
Breitling CEO Georges Kern said: “The 1984 Chronomat occupies a very important place in our modern history. It was the watch that boldly proclaimed Breitling was staying absolutely true to its roots. When much of the industry focused their efforts and energies on quartz watches, the Chronomat reminded the world that Breitling had essentially invented the modern mechanical chronograph. The message resonated and the brand prospered. The Chronomat Collection is a fitting tribute to the amazing watch that, more than any other, put us back in touch with our heritage.”
