By Kien Lee
To date, Breitling might not be widely known for women's watches but this impression belies the truth.
Since the 1940s, Breitling has in fact created a variety of dedicated timepieces for the ladies. One such example was the ladies' TransOcean, called the "most wonderful expression of Breitling precision" back in 1957. Another is the Lady J which broke new ground in the 1990s. A third of recent times would be the Galactic, which brought a "blend of refined luxury and uncompromising technical sophistication" in 2010.
Stepping into the new era for Breitling, the Swiss manufacture recently rolled out the iconic Navitimer in 35 mm and 38 mm, as well as the Superocean in 36 mm. To top this all off, it has now reinterpreted a third pillar of its timepieces, the Chronomat in 17 versions for the fairer sex to adorn.
The Iconic Breitling Navitimer 1 Collection
Launched in 1952, Breitling's Navitimer 1 has its place in the annals of watchmaking. Instantly recognizable with its circular slide rule on its bezel, the timepiece performed a range of calculations relevant to aviation, and was quickly adopted by pilots. This relationship was especially embraced by the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA), with a successful partnership propelling it to greater awareness and heights, and eventually, a warm reception by the general public and watch buyers.
In 2018, under the leadership of the new incoming CEO Georges Kern, the Navitimer collection adds eight new references, offering a variety of sizes, dial options, bracelets, and straps. Read More.
The New Chronomat for Women
Breitling's first-ever Chronomat designed for women, builds off the rich heritage of the original Chronomat launched in the 1980s, following an update to the men's line as well.
It challenges the stereotype of women (not) wearing watches that look sporty. Thematically, Breitling might be reshaping attitudes, but one might argue the Modern Woman is much different from generations before.
The New Breitling Chronomat, an All-Purpose Icon Updated With Style
When the Breitling Chronomat was first launched, it bucked the onslaught of quartz on the marketplace in the 1970s. Eschewing the "battery-operated" approach, Breitling went bold and offered mechanical Swiss-made watches, rare because few watch companies had survived into the new decade, rare because most who survived did not feel mechanical watches in all its self-winding artistry could still appeal to the customer.
Perhaps it was down to a one-two combo with Breitling's other iconic watch, the Navitimer, and the inspired creation of the Chronomat based on the Italian flight operators, which contributed to the brand's strong and proud association with aviation. However, the Chronomat would cross over from air to land and sea. In the late 80s and early 90s, the Chronomat's tachymeter would see it embraced by Formula 1 racing teams, and the reversible feature of the rider tabs on its rotating bezel, well suited the countdown nature of sailing regattas. Read More
Sporty yet elegant, the Chronomat for ladies is a modern-retro-inspired watch, wearable from from business meeting to the beach – and everywhere in between. It symbolizes competence and effortless style.
The Chronomat collection features Breitling’s iconic Rouleaux bracelet with a butterfly clasp, as robust as it is elegant. Like all Breitling watches, the chronometers are COSC-certified – an independent confirmation of their Swiss precision.
There is a variety of choice, with the Chronomat 36 mm in automatic/self-winding movement and the Chronomat 32 mm runs on the brand's SuperQuartz technology. available in an array of metal cases ranging from stainless steel, two-toned "bicolour" combinations to a luxuries 18 k red gold. Additional embellishments for select models include diamond-set bezels and indexes.
Breitling SuperQuartz
In 2001, Breitling introduced its SuperQuartz technology, with its watch movements offering ten times better precision than a standard quartz movement. The maximum variation in rate for a SuperQuartz movement is 15 seconds per year, compared with 150 seconds for a standard quartz watch. Packing innovation and greater complexity inside, the SuperQuartz movement comprises 8,000 components, compared with 2,500 in a standard quartz watch.
The Chronomat Automatic 36 is powered by the Breitling Caliber 10 with a reserve of about 42 hours. There are ten versions to choose from, with special lacquered dials in white, pale green, midnight blue, or copper.
The Chronomat 32 runs on the Breitling Caliber 77 and has a battery life of three to four years. It comes in seven versions, with white or midnight blue dials.
Both offer a water resistance of up to 100 metres.
The Chronomat for women, a perfect accessory for the confident and versatile women of today.
Breitling Marina Bay Sands
2 Bayfront Avenue, #01-50 The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands
Singapore 018972
Tel: +65 6688 7258
Breitling ION Orchard
2 Orchard Turn, #03-30/31 ION Orchard
Singapore 238801
Tel: +65 6732 8582
