The Premier collection stands out and apart from Breitling’s classic pilot and dive watches, while still leaving all its distinctive Breitling features intact. We review the flagship model of this recently launched line, with original photos by Olaf Köster. In marked contrast to the Navitimer 1 with its instrument-like tracks around the dial, or the Chronomat with its structural unidirectional rotating bezel, the timepieces in Breitling’s Premier collection embody understatement. But if we look to the past, we can see they’re clearly identifiable as Breitling watches. Most people who choose a Breitling Premier today weren’t even born when the original Premier watches were launched in the 1940s. During that time of turmoil and new beginnings, watches in the Premier line were intended to convey reliability, value and a touch of elegance. These merits are welcome today as well and give us a chance to step away from our fast-paced world for a bit of peace and quiet. And so the Premier collection not only recalls a different era with its name but also hits the same marks with its design as it did back in the 1940s. It is also “the first modern Breitling collection that stands for elegance in everyday life,” according to Breitling CEO Georges Kern. The “Panda” Dial Follows Today’s Trends For the sake of clarity, let us mention here that the collection also includes chronographs with ETA/Valjoux 7750-based movements and various three-hand watches with a small seconds subdial or weekday/date displays. Speaking of the date, on the Premier B01 Chronograph 42, it is easily legible at its location at 6 o’clock. Its prominent placement is made possible thanks to the reduction of displays with the chronograph movement 01, which omits the 12-hour counter and lets the offset position of the date between 4 and 5 o’clock shift to a straight up-and-down position at 6 o’clock. The two black subdials at 3 and 9 o’clock present an attractive and readable “panda” face on a white background. This bicompax arrangement places the chronograph minutes counter at 3 o’clock and a permanent small seconds subdial at 9 o’clock. This gives the Premier B01 Chronograph 42 a very balanced appearance and follows the current trend of chronographs with only two counters. Of course this only allows the timing of intervals of up to 30 minutes, but let’s be honest – who among us in these rapid-fire times needs to record extended time spans, especially since the Premier B01 Chronograph 42 was designed for “powering down.” In-house Movement Has a Long Power Reserve and Runs Well But the Premier B01 Chronograph 42 shows the instrumental nature Breitling is known for – more than merely chronometer performance. The center-mounted stopwatch hand has a red tip that travels around a delicate but fully legible tachymeter track, which is expertly printed on the black flange ring around the dial, and glides above the seconds track that is divided in thirds to reflect the 4-Hz rhythm of the Caliber 01 automatic movement. The precision and accuracy Breitling is known for is beautifully staged beneath a domed anti-glare sapphire crystal that reveals a certain retro charm. It is a nod to the past, just like the Premier logo on the dial: Premier models in the 1940s were the first Breitling watches to bear the product name on the dial. Its understated elegance extends even as far as the minimal application of luminous material on the hour and minutes hands – enough to barely read the time in poor lighting conditions. By contrast, legibility during the day is excellent. Sporty
Yet Elegant Case Lies Snugly on The Wrist Premier B01 Chronograph 42 Offers a
New Option SPECS: This article originally appeared in the July-August 2019 issue of WatchTime. Is Breitling B01 a good movement?The 47-jewel Breitling 01 or B01 movement oscillates at 28,800 VpH and boasts an impressive 70-hour power reserve. The Breitling B01 movement is classified as a highly accurate mechanical caliber with a COSC Chronometer designation certifying that it is to have a minimum accuracy of -4/+6 seconds per day.
Is Breitling premier a dress watch?“The Chronomat of the 1940s was a tool watch whose clear purpose was to facilitate mathematical operations, while the Premier models were elegant and stylish dress watches,” explains Breitling CEO Georges Kern.
What is Breitling B01?B01 in many models. Breitling introduced their calibre 01 (commonly called Cal. B01) in April 2009 in the Chronomat. It is a modern automatic chronograph movement with a column wheel and vertical clutch. It operates at 28,800 A/h, boasts a power reserve of 70 hours, and is a COSC-certified chronometer.
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