In my first look just a couple days ago, I noted that the redesigned Breitling Colt models (“Breitling Colt II” ) seemed a bit lacking in personality — at least based on the first images I saw. Here’s a few more looks at the Breitling Colt Chronograph II — you can see what a difference a change in dial color(s) and/or strap can make. The white dial with black sub-dials looks the best to me. But in general I’m lukewarm on the entire lineup (though I do like this bezel better than the old bezel (which had rider tabs)). What do you think?
Breitling Colt Chronograph II
blue dial / steel bracelet
white dial / steel bracelet
white dial / leather strap
black dial / rubber strap
black dial/steel bracelet
A few more angles of the black dial/steel bracelet model:
Commensurate with the kick-off of the 2011 Reno Air Races, Breitling announces that it has entirely redesigned its Colt model. Several variations of the redesigned model (chronograph, different straps) are shown below. My first impression was “ho-hum” — the new designs seems a bit generic — but perhaps after seeing the watch in person my opinion will change. The Colt redesign kinda reminds me of when IWC redesigned its iconic Aquatimer watch in 2009 — the new design just seemed awkward, but over time I have come to like the new Aquatimer. The “new” Colt is available in three versions, including a chronograph and a ladies’ watch, and all models are equipped with SuperQuartz movements. Gone are the bezel “rider tabs” in favor of a brushed bezel with stamped numerals.
The New Breitling Colt Collection
water resistance to 300 meters (1,000 ft) or 500 meters (1,650 ft), bezel featuring stamped numerals, dials adorned with new rounded numerals exclusively designed for this model
“the most advanced iOS game ever”
Pure genius! Breitling just announced the launch of “Breitling Reno Air Races” game, a multiplayer race game for iOS platforms. Yes, an iOS game developed and sponsored by a Swiss luxury watch brand — definitely a first! In a deft marketing move, the app is also FREE, courtesy of Breitling. This is particularly genius if the Reno Air Races game is “the most advanced iOS game ever” as Breitling says it is. While time will tell what the hard core gamers have to say about game’s quality, might as well give it a try! I’m downloading the app to my iPad right now to give my hand a try at air racing!
Reno Air Races is OpenFeint enabled. Breitling tells me that two updates will be made to the game content before the start of the 2011 Reno Air races in September, with further classifications and new airplane models being added. An Android version of the game is scheduled for launch September 2011, during the official races.
CLICK HERE FOR A FREE DOWNLOAD OF BREITLING RENO AIR RACES FOR iOS
Air Escort…
Forgive me for going off-topic, but I thought these photos were worthy of a closer look. In the build up to the Paris Air Show 2011, the largest and most established global aerospace event in the world, the Breitling Jet Team recently joined the iconic Airbus A380 for a 50-minute aerial flyover of the Toulouse, France region. The resulting photos were too much to resist.
Breitling Jet Team flies with an Airbus A380
Airbus A380: 80 meter wingspan | Breitling L-39C Jets: 9.5 meter wingspan
The Breitling Jet Team is known for its breathtaking displays at air shows and sporting events around the world. The seven L-39C jets fly within 3 meters of each other, at speeds of almost 750 km/h and enduring forces of up to 8G as they accelerate – embodying the very essence of daring, speed and precision.
The leader of the Breitling Jet Team, Jacques Bothelin has clocked up over 10,100 flight hours on 145 different types of planes and has performed over 2,700 demonstrations.
Click through on the photo below to see several more awesome pics of the Breitling Jet Team in action:
May 10, 2011 – Grand Canyon, USA – An amazing feat was accomplished today, as Breitling-sponsored “Jetman” Yves Rossy flew above the Grand Canyon for eight minutes with a jet-propelled wing attached to his back. Rossy, whose many jetpack aerial exploits have amazed the world, today launched from a helicopter positioned 8,000 feet above the Grand Canyon, quickly reaching top speeds of 190 mph. Always a showman, Rossy ended the historic flight with a graceful parachute-descent to the Grand Canyon floor. Rossy went on the record, saying “My first flight in the U.S. is sure to be one of the most memorable experiences in my life, not only for the sheer beauty of the Grand Canyon but the honor to fly in sacred Native American lands. Thank you Mother Nature and the Hualapai Tribe for making my lifelong dreams come true.”
I’ve got the video highlights of the Jetman in action, right here….
‘Jetman’ Yves Rossy Flies the Grand Canyon (VIDEO)
Rossy’s jetwing is steered only with his body, while four small jet motors provide him with enough speed and lift to sustain flight, eight minutes in this particular event. Jetman has already won a global acclaim for his successful jet-powered flights across Lake Geneva and the English Channel (sponsored by Hublot at the time), among other feats.
‘Jetman’ Yves Rossy Flies the Grand Canyon
Photo: Popular Science.
An interesting side note, the often logic-defying bureacracy that is the U.S. Government almost derailed the Jetman’s historic flight — the Federal Aviation Administration, presumably flummoxed by the free and entrepreneurial spirit of the Jetman and his first-of-its-kind jetwing, delayed Rossy’s initial flight attempt because it could not figure out how to classify the jetwing. The Jetman was undeterred, though, and the flight was eventually “FAA approved”, whereupon it went off without a hitch.
Photo: Jetman.com
Congratulations to the Jetman and Breitling on this awesome achievement!
Today I share a very special Breitling, the Super Constellation. The Breitling Super Constellation, or “Super Connie” as aviation enthusiasts know it, is both a watch and an airplane! The Super Constellation plane was built by Lockheed between 1943 and 1958 in Burbank, CA. A total of 856 aircraft were produced in four models, all distinguished by a triple-tail design and dolphin-shaped fuselage. In the entire world, only a three Super Constellation’s remain in flying condition, with the plane you see here being one of them (don’t miss the video below!). Breitling sponsored the restoration of this particular aircraft back in 2002, and it flew publicly starting in 2004; the plane was more recently out of service, but now fresh off of a tune-up, including a fresh paint job, the Breitling Super Constellation flies again. Fittingly, Breitling has announced a new limited edition model, proceeds of which will go to support the Super Constellation Flyers Assocation. More Breitling Super Connie plane history here and here (lots of good photos, too).
Breitling Navitimer Super Constellation Watch
Limited Edition 1,049 pieces (in tribute to the Lockheed
42mm polished steel case, Breitling “SUPER CONSTELLATION” DIAL NOTATION, Caliber 23 automatic mechanical movement (COSC)
Specially engraved caseback with etching of the Super Constellation airplane:
Breitling Navitimer Super Constellation Airplane VIDEO
Breitling Navitimer Super Constellation Airplane PHOTOS
Baselworld 2011 – This is the new Breitling Superocean Chronograph II, is a new chronograph version of the Superocean, one of my favorite watches from Breitling. This year’s model is up-sized to a 44mm case (vs. last year’s 41mm), and sports vividly colored dial accents — the seconds hand, chronograph sub-dial outlines, the frame of the calendar aperture, and the “Superocean” siganture are adorned in matching color accents — available orange, red, white, yellow and blue accents on the black dial (all pictured below). Water resistant to a hefty 500 meters (1,650 feet), this watch is a rock-solid diver suitable that would make a great “daily wearer”.
Breitling Superocean Chronograph II
44mm diameter stainless steel case, unidirectional rotating bezel, Breitling Caliber 13 automatic mechanical movement (COSC-rated), 500 meters water resistance
Additional Dial Color Variations:
by Kyle Stults on April 12, 2011
Breitling freshens it up a bit with two new special editions of its Avenger Seawolf Chrono ‘Blacksteel’, dubbed “Code Yellow” and “Code Orange”. Other than the colors, these watches are unchanged from original Breitling Avenger Seawolf Chrono (2010) — 45mm case, 1,000 meter water resistance, and a Breitling patented “magnetic pushpiece” system which enables the chronograph functions to be fully functional even at 3,300 feet deep (most chronographs can not be used at meaningful depths because it can compromise the watertight-ness of the watch. I’d guess the suggested retail price will be between $5,000 and $6,000. If you want/like big and bad dive watches, here you go!
Breitling Avenger Seawolf Blacksteel Chrono “Code Yellow” and “Code Orange”
45mm ‘blacksteel’ case, Breitling Caliber 73 “SuperQuartz” movement (COSC)
The new Breitling Chronomat GMT introduces Breitling’s new Caliber 04 movement, a deriviation of Breitling’s first in-house caliber the B01. The Chronomat GMT is equipped with two central hour hands — the first matches the minute hand and runs over a 12-hour scale, while the second is tipped with a red triangle and runs in 24-hour mode. When the in your home country, the two hour hands move in a perfectly synchronized manner. It’s no “Orange Hand” 
but still a solid new offering from Breitling.
Breitling Chronomat GMT
Breitling Caliber 04 automatic mechanical mvmt (COSC), 500 meter water resistance
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by Kyle Stults on February 24, 2011
From the frozen Baltic waters of northern Finland…
A new and nicely decorated Breitling for Bentley is born. The watch commemorates a special version of the Bentley Continental GTC Supersports which recently set a new world speed record on ice by driving at the impressive speed of 205.48 mph (330.695 km/h). The event actually took place upon the frozen waters of the Baltic sea near Oulu, Finland. Extreme temperatures ranging from -30 to -20°C surely made for a fun time. The titanium-cased Breitling watch (worn by the driver during the feat) is set to be officially unveiled at Baselworld 2011, but I figured you might like a quick sneak-peek.
Be sure to check out the cool raw footage shot by Bentley, below.
Breitling for Bentley (Ice Record Edition)
Bentley Continental GTC Supersports Ice Speed Record Video
The record-setting driver, Juha Kankkunen – with watch and car!
Stay tuned into the Official Perpetuelle.com Baselworld 2011 Watch News Feed for more to come.
