Meet the Breitling Classic AVI Chronograph 42 Curtiss Warhawk Watch
Thursday - 25 May 2023
The Breitling Super AVI Chronograph GMT 46 Curtiss Warhawk was one of the five chronographs to be released as part of Breitling’s Super AVI watch series back in 2021, paying homage to a wartime aircraft whilst also boasting subtle nods to a historical model from Breitling’s archives. The new Breitling Classic AVI Chronograph 42 Curtiss Warhawk watch is a downsized version that measures a much more manageable size for smaller wrists and foregoes the inner 24-hour scale. What it does offer, however, is a modern spin on the 1950s AVI ref 765 watch developed by Breitling in the 1950s – a wrist-worn chronograph that could be utilized in all manner of conditions expected of a vintage cockpit. Let’s shake hands with the new Breitling Classic AVI Chronograph 42 Curtiss Warhawk watch.
If you’re big on Breitling’s history and you already have a soft spot for its classic chronograph designs, you’re going to want to feast your eyes upon one of the Swiss watch manufacturer’s latest pilot’s watches, which goes by the name of the Classic AVI Chronograph 42 Curtiss Warhawk watch. It’s another spin on the Super AVI Chronograph 46 Curtiss Warhawk watch released a couple of years back, which was inspired by Breitling’s AVI ref 765 model produced in the 1950s. It featured a distinct military green-coloured dial and an imposing 46mm stainless steel case.
In 2021, on the Dallas runway, Breitling launched four models from its Super AVI series, inspired by the Breitling Ref. 765 AVI from 1953. The P51 Mustang, the Vought F4U Corsair, the Curtiss Warhawk, and the de Havilland Mosquito all paid homage to the company’s rich aviation-rooted heritage with designs that celebrated a specific aircraft. The series was described by the CEO of the company, Georges Kern as a collection that: “…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.”
Extending on this aviation series is the new Classic AVI Chronograph 42 Curtis Warhawk wristwatch – a chronograph that, in many ways, looks similar to its larger ancestor but forgoes the inner 24-hour scale and features a compact 42mm case size crafted from stainless steel.
The Curtiss P-40 Warhawk
The Curtiss P-40 Warhawk aircraft had a defiant shark-mouth shape for its nose and proved itself a master of agility fairly quickly. It first took to the skies in 1938, pulling breath-taking turns in the air whilst tolerating harsh external conditions thanks to its robust structure. Innumerable pilots owe their lives to this innovative construction, having served with twenty-eight allied and friendly nations. The workhorse was similar in design to the Hawker Hurricane, praised for bearing the brunt of air warfare over some of the bloodiest battlefronts.
The new Breitling Classic AVI Chronograph 42 Curtis Warhawk watch
Last year’s Breitling Super AVI Curtiss Warhawk watch was a chronograph and a GMT rolled into one, with a notched bezel that promoted an easy grip through pilot gloves. The 46mm model was integrated with 100-meter water resistance and was topped with a cambered sapphire crystal glass front, glare-proofed on both sides for maximum visibility during day and night. A screw-locked crown with two gaskets helped maintain its water-resistant rating, whilst a sapphire crystal glass exhibition caseback granted an unhindered view into an in-house movement as it performed. Whilst admiring the self-winding engine, you could simultaneously appreciate an image of the Curtiss P-40 Warhawk aircraft, etched into its surface making the timepiece a very special one to add to any collection. Its bidirectional ratcheted bezel could be used in conjunction with a red-tipped GMT hand for tracking a second time zone whilst the notched bezel itself, along with the crown was oversized. The watch was also powered by the Breitling B04 calibre, capable of providing an impressive 70-hour power reserve once fully wound. The engine comprises a column wheel and vertical clutch, with a 1/4th of a second chronograph hand, along with 30-minute and 12-hour totalisers.
The new Breitling Classic AVI Chronograph 42 Curtiss Warhawk is similar in style and features a case crafted from stainless steel and a ratcheted bidirectional rotating bezel. The case, measuring a 42mm diameter, is also water resistant to 100 meters and features a screwed-in caseback that not only upholds the model’s water resistance but also serves as a canvas for a beautifully engraved aircraft design depicting the Curtiss Warhawk. A stunning green colour is used for the dial, with luminous-coated Arabic numerals for the hour markers and central hands that are governed by an automatic movement. The dial features silver-filled chronograph sub-counters at 3, 6 and 9 o’clock offering 30-minute, 12-hour and small seconds respectively, as well as a central chronograph seconds hand with a red tip. Red accents are also seen on the 3 o’clock sub-counter.
This new Breitling Classic AVI Chronograph 42 Curtiss Warhawk watch is powered by the Calibre 23 which sits inside the robust steel case, providing a power reserve of 48 hours and delivering a performance of 28,800 oscillations per hour. The watch can also be enjoyed on a choice of two different straps. You can opt for a traditional brown calf leather strap that nods to aviation gear with its vintage off-white contrast stitching running down the sides, or a classic stainless steel bracelet option. The calf leather band secures to the wrist with a Breitling-engraved folding clasp, whilst the steel link bracelet, with brushed and polished finishes, is secured to the wrist with a butterfly clasp.
If you’d like more information on the new Curtiss Warhawk version of the Breitling Classic AVI series, you can check out the new releases here or call and speak to a member of our Jura Watches sales team on 01335 453453.
