Breitling For Bentley Motors Chronograph Special Edition

Why We Love It

In a market full of timepieces produced in limited runs to commemorate automotive partnerships, it becomes easy to become rather jaded and dismissive of the nomenclature; particularly when you've been collecting wristwatches as long as we have. But a few really hit it out of the park. 

This isn't one of them.

It is, however, a lot of watch for the money. And we mean that quite literally.

This ETA-powered Breitling chronograph checks in at 49mm in diameter with an overall weight of 140 grams. Featuring an oversized bi-directionally rotating timing bezel with knurled steel decoration, cartoonishly small barrel pushers, and an enormous dial with triple subsidiary registers and a date haphazardly placed at 4:30, the only thing more absurd about the way this watch looks is the minuscule size of the automatic movement inside its cavernous steel assembly.

Joking aside, its not all bad - the copper brown sunburst dial coloration is lovely and the engine-turned bezel assembly are nice touches, and the Bentley Motors branding is subtle and relatively unobtrusive, which is more than we can say about most car brand/watch brand collabs.

This design language is very much of the era - early 2000s - and comes with a scale and style that Breitling has been seeking to distance itself from (along with former spokesman John Travolta). With all that said, if you're looking for a sub-$3K nouveau-riche statement piece that screams from the wrist with a Swiss chronograph movement that brings you back to those carefee pre-Financiapocalypse days, you've found it.

And how could you miss it? Its freakin' yuuuuge.

The Breitling Story

Breitling was founded in 1892, and while still around today, the company is no longer in the hands of the Breitling family.

The late 1970s was a turbulent time for the Swiss watch industry, and many storied houses were swept away by the Quartz Crisis. By 1978, Breitling was in trouble due to the illness of its leader, Willy Breitling, and the steep decline in sales that had cut through the entire industry. Unable to keep operations going, the Breitling company was liquidated, and parts, toolings and naming rights were sold off. One of the best aviation watch companies was no more, but they left behind a large range of incredible watches.

Breitling has been surprisingly slow to catch fire with vintage collectors, especially since the history of the brand and their ties to aviation are unimpeachable. Sure, many of their watches have polarizing designs and complicated dial aesthetics (hell, we don't know how to use the slide rule feature on the Navitimer 806 any better than you do), but their cleaner designs embody the best of 1960s and 1970s chronograph design and shouldn’t be overlooked.

If we had our druthers, Breitling would be one of the top dogs in the world of vintage watches, and given a strong new direction for the company today, we’re confident that in time, they will be.

Our Pledge

Analog:Shift stands behind the authenticity of our products in perpetuity.

Condition

Since our pieces are vintage or pre-owned, please expect wear & patina from usage and age. Please read each item description and examine all product images.

Warranty

We back each Analog:Shift vintage timepiece with a one-year mechanical warranty from the date of purchase.

International Buyers

Please contact us prior to purchase for additional details on shipping and payment options.

All of our watches include complementary insured shipping within the 50 states.

Most of our products are on hand and will ship directly from our headquarters in New York City. In some cases, watches will be shipped directly from one of our authorized partners.

We generally ship our products via FedEx, fully insured, within 5 business days of purchase. An adult signature is required for receipt of all packages for insurance purposes. Expedited shipping is available at an additional cost. We are also happy to hand deliver your purchase in Manhattan or you may pick it up at our showroom.

Returns must be sent overnight or by priority international delivery, fully insured and paid for by the customer. A restocking fee may apply. Watches must be returned in the same condition as initially shipped.

We welcome international buyers, please contact us prior to purchase for additional details on shipping and payment options.