For those looking for refinement and sporty elegance, look no further than the newly-launched all-new Premier collection from Breitling.
By Kien Lee
Unveiled late last year, the Premier collection revives a name that bears unique significance. Looking back into the Swiss manufacture's archives, the original Premier was first introduced in 1943 by Willy Breitling, and represents decades ago, the evolution of Breitling watches "from purpose to style."
Watches initially built as tools to measure time, became a fashion accessory statement. Even from the 1940s, Breitling was already ahead of its time.
Today, it has been given a new leash of life, with styled infused into purpose, combining quality with performance in a timeless design whilst maintaining the timeless aesthetic from Breitling's proud legacy.
The Premier collection alongside the iconic Chronomat family, represents "Land" under Breitling's new four-pillared strategy. "Air" represented by the classic Navitimer and recently-introduced Navitimer 8. "Sea" contains the the Superocean and Superocean Heritage; and finally, "Professional" which offers high-tech tool watches like the Emergency and the ExoSpace connected watch.
The New Breitling Premier Collection
The Premier collection is not only exemplary of the heritage and the historic design codes of Breitling which was founded in 1884, but also now expresses an urban flair that is updated for these times. The four-piece main collection includes chronographs – Breitling's industry-leading and iconic product proposition –, as well as day and date models, and three-hand watches with a discreet, small second subdial.
Breitling CEO Georges Kern explains, "This is the first modern Breitling collection dedicated to everyday elegance. With outstanding quality and performance, these watches bear our unmistakable brand DNA, but they have been created with a focus on style that beautifully complements their purpose."
Premier B01 Chronograph 42
The Premier B01 Chronograph 42 models, equipped with the Breitling Manufacture Caliber 01, are the flagship watches in the new collection. Developed by Breitling, the Caliber 01 - for those who don't already know - is the underpinning in-house movement that extends across all of Breitling's offerings, and for new timepieces including the new Navitimer 8 collection also launched last year, the first year under Kern's leadership. It can be easily identified by its panda presentation (i.e. the sub-dials are in different colour from the main dial), now seen in the B01 Chronograph 42. This self-winding, chronometer-certified chronograph has an impressive power reserve of over 70 hours.
With a 42 mm stainless-steel case and a transparent caseback, the model is available with a dark blue or silver dial. Contrasting black subdials with a chronograph minute counter at 3 o'clock and a small second subdial at 9 o'clock, are paired with a date window at 6 o'clock. Each model features a white tachymeter scale on a black inner bezel around the dial.
The blue-dial version offers the choice of either a blue alligator leather or brown nubuck strap with white stitching or a stainless-steel bracelet. The silver-dial model is available with a black nubuck or alligator leather strap or a stainless-steel bracelet.
Premier Chronograph 42
The Breitling Premier Chronograph 42 features chronograph minute and hour counters at 12 and 6 o'clock, respectively, as well as a small second subdial at 9 o'clock. This model's similarly-coloured subdials with the main dial, and their different positioning on the dial itself, differentiates it from the B01 version.
With a 42 mm stainless-steel case, the model is available with either a blue or a black dial featuring a white tachymeter ring with a black scale, with choice of either an alligator leather or nubuck strap with white stitching or a stainless-steel bracelet.
Premier Automatic 40
Perhaps more than any other watch in the new collection, Premier Automatic 40 evokes the elegance from Breitling's elegant watches of the 1940s. Inside its stainless-steel case is the Breitling Caliber 37, a self-winding mechanical chronometer movement. Its clean dial is encircled by a white minute track and elegantly finished with a small second subdial at 6 o'clock.
It is available with an anthracite, blue, or silver dial. Each dial option is available with either a nubuck or alligator leather strap or a stainless- steel bracelet.
Premier Automatic Day & Date 40
The day of the week and the date, are presented at 12 and 6 o'clock, respectively, on this new automatic timepiece powered by the Breitling Caliber 45 self-winding chronometer movement inside.
The Premier Automatic Day & Date 40 watches are available with either a black or a silver dial and feature either a stainless-steel bracelet or a nubuck or alligator leather strap with white stitching.
The new Breitling Premier collection takes not only its name, but also design inspiration from the first Premier watches manufactured 70 years ago. Just like the originals which were highly sought after for their elegance, the new watches make an uncompromising style statement.
Breitling Boutiques in Singapore
Breitling Marina Bay Sands
2 Bayfront Avenue, #01-50 The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands
Singapore 018972
Tel: +65 6688 7258
Breitling Palais Renaissance
390 Orchard Road, #01-03/04 Palais Renaissance
Singapore 238871
Tel: +65 6732 8582
