Breitling Welcomes NEW Classic AVI Chronograph 42 Mosquito Watch
Friday - 26 May 2023
Known for its top-tier aviation chronographs, Breitling has extended its line dedicated to iconic aircraft with some new models that take the “Classic AVI” name. Amongst these are the Breitling P-51 Mustang, the Vought F4U Corsair, and the Curtis Warhawk versions – all under the Classic AVI Chronograph 42 category. The Mosquito is the fourth model to join this series and is a follow-on from the Super AVI Chronograph GMT 46 watch - a much larger model that, along with its siblings, was designed in 2021 and inspired by a 1950s pilot’s wristwatch produced by Breitling for the cockpit. Its name was the Ref. 765 AVI aviator’s watch, nicknamed the “Co-Pilot”. The former 2021 model featured a satin-brushed case and polished black ceramic bezel and a reverse panda chronograph dial. Recalling the roundels and markings found on the “Wooden Wonder”, it boasted distinct red and orange accents, breathing new life once more into the wings of the popular vintage aircraft. This year, the watch has been downsized to a 42mm diameter and foregoes the inner 24-hour track, instead offering a more compact and classic version of the popular chronograph.
The inspiration behind the new Breitling Mosquito Chronograph
Breitling’s Huit Aviation department first climbed onboard its journey in creating watches for the aeronautics industry when it began developing precision cockpit clocks in the 1930s, but it would be decades later when the famous Swiss brand would manufacture flight instruments that could be worn on the wrist. This transition would prove integral to Breitling’s success during the 1950s when pilots needed an instrument that was quick and easy to reference whilst making life-threatening decisions hundreds of feet up in the air. The Ref. 765 AVI pilot’s watch quickly became known as the “Co-Pilot” and would go on to inspire a much-loved reissue developed in 2020, but now also the Super AVI Mosquito Chronograph GMT 46 watch and the new Classic AVIA version. Both follow in the same footsteps with a striking reverse panda chronograph dial executed in black and white.
The “Wooden Wonder” aircraft
The Breitling Mosquito watch honours a true legend that was produced during an era when materials like aluminium and steel were in short supply. Behind the design of the de Havilland Mosquito aircraft, engineers made use of wood instead. The aircraft which soon adopted the nickname “Wooden Wonder” immediately caught people’s attention and caused shockwaves when it outperformed other aircraft built from metal. It become one of the fastest planes built during the 1940s and 1950s, boasting superior manoeuvrability and allowing for a multitude of tasks and roles from a light bomber to a night-fighter to a transporter and even a photographic reconnaissance aircraft.
The new Breitling Classic AVI Chronograph 42 Mosquito watch
For the new Breitling Classic AVI Chronograph 42 Mosquito, the Swiss watchmaker draws upon its rich heritage in developing wrist-worn chronograph watches for pilots. Breitling’s Creative Director Sylvain Berneron explained the compelling appeal behind these watches back in 2021;
“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 2021 model was integrated with 100-meter water resistance and completed with a strong and durable pane of scratch-resistant and anti-reflective sapphire crystal glass. The back of the case also featured the same material and could be used as a viewing lens for the automatic movement as it performed. It featured an image depicting the profile of the de Havilland Mosquito aircraft upon its surface. A screwed-in crown with two gaskets also helped to maintain a dry and constant environment for this in-house manufactured movement. The black dial of the previous model featured white-filled sub-counters positioned at 6 and 3 o’clock offering 12-hour and 30-minute functions respectively. These were accompanied by a small second sub-dial at 9 o’clock accented in red to match the tip of the chronograph second hand and the central hour and minute hands. A larger and more noticeable hand, tipped in red and shaped into an arrow style, dictated the white 24-hour scale around the periphery of the dial, offering a second time zone for those who frequently fly or travel.
The new Breitling Classic AVI Chronograph 42 Mosquito watch is similar in design. It features a stainless steel case equipped with 100-meter water resistance and an anti-reflective sapphire crystal glass front. The back of the case, however, is screwed in and foregoes the sapphire exhibition caseback, instead featuring the engraved aircraft as it conceals the movement behind its surface. The Breitling Calibre can provide a power reserve of 48 hours once fully wound and performs at a rate of 28.800 vibrations per hour. The watch also features a bidirectional rotating bezel in black ceramic with a red marker at 12 o’clock.
The dial of the new Breitling Classic AVI Chronograph 42 Mosquito watch is black with white-filled sub-counters at 3, 6 and 9 o’clock offering 30-minute, 12-hour and small second functions. The central chronograph hand is once again tipped in red and the Arabic numeral hour markers and hands have been treated with a generous helping of luminous material for assisted timekeeping in the ark. The minute and hour hands on the dial have also been trimmed in the same vibrant red colour.
If you’d like more information on the new Breitling Classic AVI Chronograph 42 Mosquito watch, you can call and speak to a member of our Jura Watches sale steam today on 01335 453453.
