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Perhaps it comes as no surprise that Ernest Schneider could interpret the requirements of the Italian flying aces, because as a qualified pilot himself he understood the need for high legibility, functionality and ease of use while at the controls. In 1984 when Breitling had its 100th Anniversary year the watch which had been designed for the Frecce Tricolori became part of the brand’s celebrations in the form of the flagship Chronomat model. 2014 sees the 30th Anniversary of the Chronomat and it will be honoured with a special series release, the Chronomat Airborne, styled to pay tribute to breitling navitimer 01 replica affiliation with the Italian flight squadron. 30 years is, even in watchmaking terms, a long time and naturally the model has been updated over that time period but the improvements have remained faithful to the character of the original edition. When in 2009 Breitling singled out the Chronomat as the first model in their portfolio to receive their new Manufacture calibres, it demonstrated the brand’s commitment to the collection. In 1952, Breitling launched its Navitimer wrist chronograph featuring a circular slide rule serving to perform all navigation-related calculations. It has been continuously manufactured for almost 60 years - making it the world’s oldest mechanical chronograph still in production. In 1962, a Navitimer accompanied Scott Carpenter on his orbital flight aboard the Aurora 7 capsule, thus becoming the first space-going wrist chronograph. Two dial variations of the 30th Anniversary Breitling Chronomat Airborne will be available, black with silver-toned counters or an edition which the Breitling press release terms as silver-toned with black counters, but until I see this one in the metal at BaselWorld I have to conclude that it would appear to be closer to sand-coloured. In honour of the Italian Frecce Tricolori, each piece will feature a caseback engraving of an Aermacchi plane used by the squadron and the inscription “Edition Spéciale 30th Anniversaire”. With case sizes of both 41mm and 44mm secured to the wrist by a black military-type fabric strap, these new pieces promise to slip effortlessly beneath pilot’s gloves - or more likely, beneath a tailored cuff. No introduction is needed for the Breitling Navitimer collection as it is one of only a few classic aviator watch designs. Breitling has the acolade of being able to claim that the Navitimer is the only chronograph wristwatch that has been in production continuously for over 50 years. Breitling are extremely adept in the art of producing a tidy dial, and the new Chronomat Airborne models are no exception. Broad no-nonsense hands and chubby markers indicate time and contrasting toned counters heighten visibility. Tucked between 4 and 5 o’clock is a date window and at the dial edge a tachymeter scale is a practical inclusion. Inside the steel case is the Manufacture Breitling Calibre 01 COSC certified chronometer movement with more than 70 hours of power reserve. A handsome face then, but what Breitling really excel at is the usefulness of their watches under extreme conditions and the new breitling Super Avenger II replica models all feature four distinctive raised tabs on their rotating bezels for flight timing, functional even when wearing pilot’s gloves. During the 1950s and 1960s, Breitling played a key role in the boom of commercial aviation, as its onboard chronographs became standard equipment, first on the propeller-driven planes and later on the jet aircraft of many airplane manufacturers and airline companies. Today, Breitling is perpetuating these ties with aviation by cooperating with pilots. Several teams fly the firm’s colors, including the Breitling Jet Team with its aerobatics. It is associated with air shows, such as the famous Reno Air Races (Nevada/United States). By supporting the restoration of aircraft such as the Super Constellation, one of the last flight worthy “Super Connies” in the world, Breitling asserts its determination to preserve the aeronautical legacy. So often in life, design perfection can only be achieved by seeking advice and input from the experts. When the Italian airforce aerobatics team issued a tender for their first official watch, Ernest Schneider, who had purchased the Breitling trade name and stock from Willy Breitling before his death, consulted with the squadron members who would be using the requisite timepiece - a fortuitous move, because in 1983 his design became the watch of choice for the Frecce Tricolori. The Navitimer came about in 1952 when Breitling added a circular slide rule to the bezel of the chronograph models they were making for use by aircraft pilots. This new model came to be the Navitimer. Quickly gaining a reputation as an iconic model the Navitimer was promoted as a “wrist instrument” for professionals, and it soon aquired fans among not only professional aviators but aviation fans too. In 1961, one of the original astronauts in the Mercury space program Scott Carpenter, approached Breitling with the idea of replacing the 12 hour dial with a 24 hour one. Carpenter wanted this change becuase of the lack of day and night during space travel. So Breitling modified the Navitimer with a 24-hour dial and called it the Cosmonaute. Carpenter then navigated the stars with a Cosmonaute Navitimer of his own the following year when the Mercury-Atlas 7 Aurora Mission launched in 1962. In 1969 Breitling add an automatic chonograph movement to the Navitimer.
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