Breitling Announces new Super AVI Watch Collection

Breitling unveils five Super AVI Chronograph watches with distinct designs that pay homage to some of the most influential wartime aircraft in the history of aviation.

Breitling’s five new aviation chronograph watches from the Super AVI collection are inspired by the “Co-Pilot” Ref. 765 AVI aviator’s watch, which marked an important transition from an onboard tool to a wrist-worn one back in 1953. In addition to this, each design nods to a vintage wartime aircraft; the North American Aviation P-51 Mustang, the Vought F4U Corsair, the Curtiss P-40 Warhawk, and the de Havilland Mosquito. Last year, Breitling revived the “Co-Pilot” watch with the AVI ref.765 1953 re-edition complete with a slightly enlarged case which brought the model into the 21st century. This set-of-five new chronograph watches brighten up monochrome dials with a careful choice in colour schemes, materials and textural finishes.

Georges Kern, CEO of Breitling extends; “This collection embodies that sense of nostalgia for the early days of aviation when pilots relied on their watches as onboard tools, but you don’t have to be a pilot or vintage-aircraft buff to appreciate the exceptional craftsmanship and rugged design.”

The Swiss brand’s new Super AVI collection is home to the Breitling Super AVI P-51 Mustang, available in a steel or 18ct rose gold version, the Super AVI Tribute to Vought F4U Corsair watch, with a blue tone-on-tone chronograph dial, the Super AVI Curtiss Warhawk, with a military green dial, and the Super AVI Mosquito, with a reverse panda chronograph dial. These models are inspired by the original “Co-Pilot” watch - an instrument that symbolised an era before modern technology was even a thing – a time where wrist-worn chronographs were considered an integral and trusted flight instrument tool for air-bound navigation.

Breitling Creative Director Sylvain Berneron explains; “Our watchmaking DNA is what dominates here, while the interpretations of the four aircraft give the series its emotion and bold graphic appeal. Taken together, these elements evoke the spirit of early flight. We can’t forget that Breitling pioneered aviation tool watches like the Ref. 765 AVI. That heritage is so strong, we had to not only keep it intact, but rewrite it for the 21st century.”

The Breitling Super AVI BO4 Mosquito Chronograph GMT 46 watch

The Breitling Super AVI B04 Chronograph GMT 46 Mosquito watch honours a true legend that broke boundaries in speed for its time considering the unexpected material it was developed from. When the de Havilland was created, materials such as aluminium and steel were scarcely available, so the engineers behind this innovative aircraft utilized wood instead. Surprisingly, the aircraft’s unusual design surpassed expectations and soared through the air faster than its metal contemporaries, becoming one of the speediest planes built for a whole decade. The watch was met with resounding success during the years 1940 and 1950 and was nicknamed the “Wooden Wonder”. It was utilized as a light bomber, night-fighter, transport and photographic reconnaissance aircraft.

Paying homage to this important aircraft, the Breitling Super AVI Mosquito watch is a 46mm stainless steel companion with a black dial and white-filled chronograph counters for effortlessly measuring timings. A 1/4th of a second chronograph second hand is accompanied by a red-tipped GMT hand that points to a white 24-hour scale around the edge of the dial. Super-LumiNova-coated central hands are driven around this dial, complete with a date aperture at 6 o’clock, by an in-house movement. The Breitling B04 Calibre can produce a 70-hour power reserve and offers a 12-hour totaliser and a 30-minute counter at 6 and 9 o’clock respectively. To take a glimpse at the movement through a sapphire-backed case, you first have to admire an image of the de Havilland Mosquito aircraft etched onto the surface of the crystal glass, making this special aviation chronograph a clear collectable-worthy addition to own.

Technical specifications of the new Breitling Super AVI B04 Chronograph GMT 46 Mosquito watch

• Case: 46mm – stainless steel – satin-brushed and polished finishes – 100-meter water-resistant – anti-reflective sapphire crystal glass front – sapphire exhibition caseback adorned with an image of the de Havilland Mosquito aircraft – screwed-in crown with two gaskets – black satin-brushed and polished ceramic bidirectional ratcheted bezel – oversized crown
• Dial: Black – white-filled chronograph counters at 3, 6 and 9 o’clock – small seconds, 12-hour and 30-minute totalisers – Super-LumiNova-coated hour and minute hands and stick markers – red-tipped GMT hand – white 24-hour scale – red-tipped 1/4th of a second chronograph hand
• Movement: Breitling Manufacture B04 movement – self-winding – in-house developed – 70-hour power reserve – bidirectional ball-bearing – column-wheel – vertical clutch – 28,800 v.p.h – 1/4th of a second, 30-minute, 12-hour, small seconds, hours, minutes, date, second time zone functions – COSC-certified
• Strap – Brown – pilot-inspired – leather – stainless steel folding buckle – engraved with the Breitling logo
• Reference: YB04451A1B1X1
• Price: £8,000

The new Breitling Super AVI B04 Chronograph GMT 46 Curtiss Warhawk watch

The new Breitling Super AVI B04 Chronograph GMT 46 Curtiss Warhawk watch has a distinct military-green dial with silvery-white-filled chronograph counters that make measuring timings incredibly easy to operate. The watch is inspired by the Curtiss P-40 Warhawk aircraft – a workhorse with a distinctive shark-mouth for a nose and a design that made airborne agility a complete breeze. Having served with twenty-eight allied and friendly nations, the Curtiss P-40 Warhawk was praised for bearing the brunt of air warfare over some of the bloodiest battlefronts.

The Super AVI watch in honour of this aircraft is powered once again by Breitling’s in-house Manufacture Breitling B04 movement with a column wheel and vertical clutch for overall enhanced mechanical performance. Through a sapphire-backed case, its performance is put on show, complete with an image of the wartime aircraft etched upon its surface. In this design, the red GMT hand aligns with the 24-hour scale on a stainless steel bidirectional ratcheted bezel.

Technical specifications of the new Breitling Super AVI B04 Chronograph GMT 46 Curtiss Warhawk watch

• Case: 46mm – stainless steel – satin-brushed and polished finishes – 100-meter water-resistant – anti-reflective sapphire crystal glass front – sapphire exhibition caseback adorned with an image of the Curtiss P-40 Warhawk aircraft – screwed-in crown with two gaskets –steel bidirectional ratcheted bezel – oversized crown
• Dial: Military green – silver-white-filled chronograph counters at 3, 6 and 9 o’clock – small seconds, 12-hour and 30-minute totalisers – green-emitting Super-LumiNova-coated hour and minute hands and stick markers – red-tipped GMT hand – 24-hour scale – 1/4th of a second chronograph hand – date at 4 o’clock
• Movement: Breitling Manufacture B04 movement – self-winding – in-house developed – 70-hour power reserve – bidirectional ball-bearing – column-wheel – vertical clutch – 28,800 v.p.h – 1/4th of a second, 30-minute, 12-hour, small seconds, hours, minutes, date, second time zone functions – COSC-certified
• Strap – Brown – pilot-inspired – leather – stainless steel folding buckle – engraved with the Breitling logo
• Reference: AB04452A1L1X1
• Price: £7,900

Breitling Super AVI B04 Chronograph GMT 46 Tribute to Vought F4U Corsair watch

The Breitling Super AVI B04 Chronograph GMT 46 Tribute to Vought F4U Corsair watch pays homage to a fighter plan that broke the speed record for a single-seat fighter aircraft by exceeding 400 miles per hour in level flight. Known for its powerful engine, its speed, ruggedness and firepower, the Vought F4U Corsair watch had a distinct shape with purposely bent wings, an oversized propeller, and signature blue livery that is captured beautifully in the design of the blue tone-on-tone chronograph dial of this new Super AVI watch. Similar to its siblings, the watch measures a broad 46mm diameter and comes integrated with 100-meter water resistance, an anti-glare sapphire crystal glass front, a black calfskin leather strap and a powerful movement. The performance of the Breitling Manufacture B04 Calibre can be admired simultaneously alongside an image of the Vought F4U Corsair aircraft adorned upon the surface of the glass. Like the rest of the range, the GMT hand is highlighted by a red-tipped central hand, which points to a 24-hour scale around the flange.

Technical specifications of the Breitling Super AVI B04 Chronograph GMT 46 Tribute to Vought F4U Corsair watch

• Case: 46mm – stainless steel – satin-brushed and polished finishes – 100-meter water-resistant – anti-reflective sapphire crystal glass front – sapphire exhibition caseback adorned with an image of the Vought F4U Corsair – screwed-in crown with two gaskets – steel bidirectional ratcheted bezel – oversized crown
• Dial: Blue – tone-on-tone chronograph counters at 3, 6 and 9 o’clock – small seconds, 12-hour and 30-minute totalisers – Super-LumiNova-coated hour and minute hands and stick markers – red-tipped GMT hand – 24-hour scale – red-tipped 1/4th of a second chronograph hand
• Movement: Breitling Manufacture B04 movement – self-winding – in-house developed – 70-hour power reserve – bidirectional ball-bearing – column-wheel – vertical clutch – 28,800 v.p.h – 1/4th of a second, 30-minute, 12-hour, small seconds, hours, minutes, date, second time zone functions – COSC-certified
• Strap – Black – pilot-inspired – leather – white contrast stitching - stainless steel folding buckle – engraved with the Breitling logo
• Reference: AB04451A1C1X1
• Price: £7,900

The Breitling Super AVI B04 Chronograph GMT 46 P-51 Mustang

The P-51 only took 121 days to develop and so was considered an experimental aircraft when it first took to the skies in 1940. Its unprecedented speed and range made it the perfect model for supplying to the Royal Air Force (RAF) but was later adopted by the U.S. Army Air Forces (USAAF). The P-51 Mustang was considered the best all-purpose fighter of its time, promising reliability, endurance and performance – all key values embodied by the Breitling Super AVI P-51 Mustang watch.

The luxury pilot’s chronograph watch is available in stainless steel with a black tone-on-tone dial and a golden brown stitched calfskin leather strap, or an 18ct rose gold version with an anthracite dial with black-filled chronograph counters and a black calfskin leather strap with a steel folding buckle. Both models are 100-meter water-resistant and governed by the same B04 Calibre. The 30-minute, 12-hour and small second counters add depth and a sense of dimension to the display thanks to their contrasting shades. At night, the Super-LumiNova coated Arabic numerals and hour hands light the way to precision timekeeping. The back of the case, equipped with a sapphire crystal glass exhibition feature, is adorned with an image of the P-51 Mustang’s iconic profile, whilst behind this, the movement works peerlessly to deliver continuous accuracy.

Technical specifications of the new Breitling Super AVI B04 Chronograph GMT 46 P-51 Mustang watch

• Case: 46mm – stainless steel/18ct rose gold – 100-meter water-resistant – anti-reflective sapphire crystal glass front – sapphire exhibition caseback adorned with an image of the P-51 Mustang aircraft – screwed-in crown with two gaskets – polished steel bidirectional ratcheted bezel – oversized crown
• Dial: Black/Anthracite – chronograph counters at 3, 6 and 9 o’clock – small seconds, 12-hour and 30-minute totalisers – Super-LumiNova-coated hour and minute hands and stick markers – red-tipped GMT hand – 24-hour scale – red-tipped 1/4th of a second chronograph hand
• Movement: Breitling Manufacture B04 movement – self-winding – in-house developed – 70-hour power reserve – bidirectional ball-bearing – column-wheel – vertical clutch – 28,800 v.p.h – 1/4th of a second, 30-minute, 12-hour, small seconds, hours, minutes, date, second time zone functions – COSC-certified
• Strap – Brown/Black – pilot-inspired – calfskin leather – stainless steel/18ct rose gold folding buckle – engraved with the Breitling logo
• Reference: AB04453A1B1X1 / RB04451A1B1X1
• Price: Starts from £7,900