Breitling Japan Co., Ltd.
Breitling, which continues its “140 YEARS OF FIRSTS” (140th
Anniversary Campaign), releases its first model equipped with an in-house perpetual calendar chronograph movement.
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Breitling has announced 140th anniversary limited editions of its three flagship models: Premier, Navitimer and Chronomat. Each model is equipped with the innovative caliber B19, which ensures correct date display for a century with just a few adjustments and boasts a power reserve of approximately 96 hours.
Founded in 1884, Breitling is celebrating its 140th anniversary throughout this year with 140 Years of Firsts. Now, Breitling’s first ever perpetual calendar chronograph movement, Caliber B19, joins its pioneering achievements. This new caliber is used for the first time in three 140th anniversary limited edition models of Breitling’s most iconic icons: Premier, Navitimer and Chronomat.
[Image 1: 
Before we get into the details, let’s take a look at some of Breitling’s “firsts” that led to this moment.
・1884: Founded by Leon Breitling. He established a business
manufacturing pocket chronographs that measure everything from time to speed to heart rate to the speed of sound.
・1915: His son Gaston introduces the first wristwatch-style
chronograph. A separate pusher at 2 o’clock that started, stopped, and reset the chronograph hands independently of the crown was a major operational advance.
・1934: Leon’s grandson Willy Breitling receives a patent for a watch with an independent second pusher at 4 o’clock. It established the form of the chronograph that is still commonly used today.
・1969: Breitling jointly develops and releases the first automatic chronograph caliber. The combination of a chronograph and an automatic movement was a breakthrough in solving the challenges of watchmaking at the time.
・2009: Breitling Manufacture Caliber 01, the first movement developed in-house, is introduced. It was widely recognized as a representative chronograph caliber.
The three One of 140 limited edition timepieces add another first to this legacy. Caliber B19 is designed and assembled entirely at Breitling Chronometry.
[Image 2: Caliber B19: a new standard
Breitling is one of the few independent watch manufacturers that manufactures its own chronograph movements. Starting with the Breitling Manufacture Caliber 01 in 2009, Breitling has introduced chronograph calibers one after another, including the 24-hour display in B02, the split seconds in B03, and the GMT function in B04. Many more innovations will follow. The new Caliber B19 is the brand’s first exclusive perpetual calendar movement, as well as Breitling’s original specialty in chronographs. With a full calendar, moon phase, 28, 30, and 31 day months, and automatic leap year correction, it has operated for nearly a century with only minor adjustments. Furthermore, it boasts an incredible power reserve of approximately 96 hours.
[Image 3: The movement’s solid gold rotor is engraved with Breitling’s historic Montbrillant factory at 3 Rue Montbrillant, La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland. Montbrillant was more than just a factory. The west wing is a villa-style house where three generations of the Breitling family lived. The Montbrillant building has been the Breitling factory for over 80 years, and has also served as a proud advertising tower. In the 1930s and 1940s, its name was even written on the dials of watches.
Celebrating Tradition: Breitling’s 140th Anniversary Edition Premier B19 Datra 42 140th Anniversary: The Premier debuted in 1943 as a timepiece that took the chronograph out of the cockpit and into social situations. It was both a gentleman’s chronograph and a high-performance tool watch, becoming a symbol of good taste. The Anniversary Edition in solid 18K red gold retains the Premier’s signature Arabic numerals, contrasting minute track and distinctive square pushers. The strap is crafted from black alligator leather with elegant tonal topstitching and is completed with an 18K gold folding clasp.
[Image 4: Navitimer B19 Chronograph 43 Perpetual Calendar 140th Anniversary: The Navitimer was the first pilot’s watch to combine a chronograph with the brand’s unique rotating slide rule. Originally developed in 1952 for members of the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA), the Navitimer quickly became popular with a wider range of users, including celebrities and astronauts. In 1962, it became the first Swiss watch to fly into space. The Anniversary Edition features an eye-catching 18K red gold dial with the famous black slide rule. The strap is made of black alligator leather with contrasting topstitching and has an 18K gold folding clasp.
[Image 5: Super Chronomat B19 44 Perpetual Calendar 140th Anniversary: The Chronomat debuted in 1983 as the official watch of the Italian aerobatic squad, Frecce Tricolori. The design became popular and it went on sale to the general public the following year. At that time, it was the quartz era, and it had an important meaning. The Chronomat helped revive the popularity of mechanical chronographs. The Anniversary Edition has a distinctive design, including the model’s unique 15-minute protruding rider tabs and “onion”-shaped crown, as well as a rubber strap that inherits the design of a traditional Reuleaux bracelet. Ceramic inserts also make this model more attractive in appearance. Furthermore, it features a skeleton dial, which is another “first for Breitling.”
[Image 6: Anniversary limited collector’s item
Each Anniversary Limited Edition model comes with a luxurious suede-lined wooden watch box that can display up to three watches. It also includes a storage drawer and a removable travel pouch. Every purchaser will receive a deluxe edition of “Breitling: 140 Years in 140 Stories” (Rizzoli Publishing, 2024). This book features your chosen anniversary piece and introduces Breitling’s glorious heritage through realistic stories and photographs. “With Caliber B19 and the Anniversary Limited Edition, we are making history once again. This launch truly embodies the kind of innovation we see in our 140 Years of Firsts,” said George.・Khan speaks.
[Image 7: About Breitling
Breitling, founded in 1884, is a leading Swiss watch manufacturer. The innovative company that invented the modern chronograph and pioneered the navigation tool watch. Today, the casual, inclusive and
sustainable luxury brand continues to break new ground with more than 270 industrial loft-inspired stores around the world. Breitling’s collection explores a yearning for the sky, land and sea, and follows the brand’s established modern-retro style. The fact that all movements are COSC-certified chronometers is a testament to their exceptional quality, and Breitling is one of the few independent watchmakers to produce manufacture calibers. Breitling is currently on a mission to create great products and experiences through better materials, better manufacturing, better packaging and end-to-end traceability. Where traditional watchmaking coexists with the latest and most sustainable innovations, Breitling is a company with a long history and at the same time at the forefront of its time.