Jewellery & Watch News
Turn the new Breitling Aerospace B70 Orbiter 25th watch over to enjoy a real piece of living history encased behind a sapphire crystal caseback.
It was once thought to be an impossible dream. To fly all around the earth without stopping and without an engine or any means of steering, What a challenge, to be pushed along, just by the wind, relying on your own intuition to steer accordingly, with the airflows and wind direction given to you by nature on the day.
It was one of the world’s greatest aviation adventures and there had been failed attempts before. Both Richard Branson and Steve Fossett had made unsuccessful attempts, not to mention Piccard himself who finally secured the triumphant record in March 1999. It was a dream that could only be achieved through sheer human perseverance and patience. True grit and determination. Although the balloon had been invented back in the late 1700s, nobody had ever circled the earth with it. To travel around the world would require a half-gas balloon, half-hot air balloon structure. Could it be done?
The first attempt in 1997 lasted 5 days and relied on jet streams that subsequently ended in an emergency landing in the Mediterranean. The huge fuel leak meant that Wim Verstraeten swerved the risk of an explosion by an inch. Then came the second attempt – the Breitling Orbiter 2. This time the balloon managed to reach Asia, but when faced by Chinese authorities who refused Andy Elson and Wim Verstraeten overflight entry across Chinese territory, they had no option but to land and abandon the mission once more. Then came the third mission. The Breitling Orbiter 3…
The Breitling Orbiter 3
In March 1999, Bertrand took off from the Swiss village of Château-d'Oex, this time with Englishman Brian Jones. Together, in the Breitling Orbiter 3, they accomplished their mission. The balloon lifted into the frozen winter sky and was gone. Despite challenges along the way, the final meridian was crossed, entering into record books as they touched down in the Egyptian desert. Now in honour of that historic voyage, Breitling has released the new Aerospace B70 Orbiter 25th Special Edition watch, complete with a real slice of history secured within its design.
The New Breitling Aerospace B70 Orbiter 25th Special Edition Watch
The new Aerospace B70 Orbiter 25th watch marks a special moment in history. The Orbiter 3 mission was the longest-ever recorded balloon flight in history. Commemorating the 20-day flight undertaken by Bertrand Piccard, together with Brian Jones, Breitling delivers a vibrant wristwatch from the Aerospace collection, complete with the popular hybrid analogue and digital display.
As with all Aerospace watches from Breitling, the new model is exceptionally robust, lightweight, functional and practical. When you roll these values into one, you get a tool for pretty much every pursuit possible. The original Aerospace watch was originally launched in 1985 but underwent a revamp in 2013, creating the design that we have all come to know and love today. The Breitling Aerospace Evo models are perfect examples of how the revered manufacturer has evolved the design dynamically. The watch still promises the same multifunctional chronograph design but now, as an heir to this legendary model, the company combines the innovative wristwatch with the latest electronic developments to suit the modern wearer.
Aerospace watches are crafted from titanium, offering a remarkably lightweight feel on the wrist. In addition to this, the material is chosen for its properties in durability and strength. The model also features a SuperQuartz movement that is thermocompensated, meaning that it can withstand fluctuations in temperature without compromising on accuracy.
Today a watch like the Aerospace B70 Orbiter 25th Edition would be perfect for a globe-orbiting task in a balloon. Not only would the watch guarantee unparalleled accuracy, but it could do so without losing more than a few seconds throughout an entire year. The Aerospace is also highly legible and its lightweight properties would certainly come in handy for keeping on track of the time for days at a time.
The new Breitling Aerospace B70 Orbiter 25th Special Edition watch features a vibrant orange dial that tips its hat to the colour of the original Breitling Orbiter 3 capsule. To the right of the dial is the mission’s logo, while the oversized Arabic numerals and hands are executed in a silver colour with plenty of luminous material to assist with timekeeping in the dark. Two black panels across the dial feature the digital displays, delivering the time clearly and legibly. The entire surface of the dial is covered with a strong piece of sapphire crystal glass – the same material that is used for the reverse side of the case. Here, upon turning the new Breitling watch over, you can appreciate the talking point of this special edition watch – a real piece of the Breitling Orbiter 3 capsule, protected behind a sapphire exhibition window.
The new Aerospace B70 Orbiter 25th Special Edition watch measures a 43mm diameter. Its titanium case is matched with a titanium bracelet and a micro-adjustment folding clasp. Alternatively, you could go a touch sportier and wear the new Aerospace watch on a black rubber strap with the same clasp manufactured from Titanium. The watch is also 100-meter water-resistant and features a unidirectional rotating bezel for measuring elapsed time via the central minute hand.
If you’d like to get your hands on one of the new Breitling Aerospace B70 Orbiter 25th Special Edition watches, you can speak to a member of our C W Sellors sales team today at 01335 216004, or why not drop us an email at sales@cwsellors.com?
