FROM PURPOSE TO STYLE
In the early 1940s, Breitling provides aviation instruments famed for their precision and reliability; logically, its HUIT Aviation department supplies the British Royal Air Forces among many other air forces. Willy Breitling, a man of great style himself, intuitively recognizes that people have a powerful desire for products radiating elegance and glamour. Breitling is already producing some elegant chronographs, but Willy Breitling wants to develop a new distinctive collection, intended for a discerning, and stylish clientele.
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1943 – PREMIER
With its name coming from the French word for “first”, the Premier collection is launched in 1943 and is positioned at the forefront of watchmaking elegance, but still with the versatility and sportiness that distinguishes all other Breitling wristwatches like the iconic Navitimer or the stylish SuperOcean that will both come a decade later.
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1943 PREMIER REF. 760 VENUS 175 36MM
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1943 Premier Ref. 734 Venus 178 38mm
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With cases crafted from either solid gold or stainless steel, and ranging from a small and elegant 32mm to a large and sporty 38mm, Premier watches are made for the active gentleman who enjoys a drink in a classy bar or a sporty ride in the countryside. Embodying the dynamic and versatile lifestyle of its clientele, the Premier collection offers an impressively large diversity of design configurations: from square pushers to round pushers with dials configuration with two or three subdials. For an elegant look you will go for refined applied indexes while for a sportier touch, luminescent indexes will be perfect. There is really a Premier for any occasion and Premier watches quickly become the ultimate go-to accessory.
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1945 PREMIER REF. 777 VENUS 175 38MM
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1945 PREMIER REF. 777 VENUS 175 38MM
The Premier chronographs perfectly embody Breitling’s vision of style and elegance and expand its reputation beyond the world of aviation.
More than twenty years before the trendy Top Time that will particularly speak to a younger audience, the Premier collection already shows Breitling capability to create watches for a specific clientele, addressing efficiently its codes and needs.
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DUOGRAPH – THE ULTIMATE CHRONOGRAPH COMPLICATION
Concomitantly to the Premier, Breitling builds up on his legitimacy in the chronograph development (Breitling patented the first independent chronograph pusher in 1915 and the first second independent pusher in 1934) and brings some more complications to the elegant Premier including a highly complicated split-second chronograph: the Duograph, launched in the early 1944. Keeping design codes set up by the Premier, the Duograph is also offered in numerous variations, from square pushers to round pushers, in stainless steel or in gold. Beyond any doubt, it represents the epitome of Breitling complicated watches.
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DUOGRAPH 1944 REF. 762 VENUS 179 36 MM
ONE OF THE MOST CHALLENGING COMPLICATION IN WATCHMAKING
A split-second chronograph consists in two superimposed chronograph hands, with one that you can stop to measure an intermediate time while the other hand continues to run. Once the intermediate time is noted, you can press the third pusher located in the crown and the stopped hand will instantaneously catch up with the other one that continues to run.
It is considered today as one of the most challenging complications in watchmaking and only very few brands can offer such complication. In 2017, Breitling reaffirms its mastery of the chronograph complication by launching its first in-house split-second caliber, the Breitling Manufacture Caliber B03 that is fitted today in one of the most iconic Breitling ever made: the Navitimer.
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DATORA – CALENDAR AND MOON PHASE
Alongside the Duograph, Breitling also launches a Premier with a full calendar indication: the Datora. As the Premier, the Datora is characterized by its overall elegance while offering many information like the day and the month. It is offered also in stainless or gold, sometimes even sporting a moon phase indication.
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1950 DATORA REF. 785 VENUS 191 35MM
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1945 DATORA REF. 799 VENUS 187 35MM
Today, the new Premier collection builds on this glorious heritage with a combination of elegant dials, balanced proportions and exceptional quality, ensuring that it adapts to the needs of the modern gentleman, and magnifies his style.