The recent series of Breitling for Bentley GMT Chronographs is equipped with a chronometer movement officially certified by the local COSC authority. Presented in a predictably larger than life case, which is currently available both in steel and in 18-karat rose gold (and something tells me that there is also a two-tone version on the way,) the “sporty” collection makes a strong impression: if not with its style, then with its shameless kitschiness.
Breitling, which is best known for its aviation heritage, but also tries to make a foothold in everything that is both expensive and exciting enough to make your car race like a prize horse, is cooperating with the British luxury carmaker Bentley for the last three years. First presented at the 2006 international motor show in Geneva, Breitlings designed in collaboration with Bentley tend to feature bezels decorated with a unique pattern styled after the British brand’s famous radiator grille.
Just like the rest of the family, the Breitling for Bentley GMT Chronograph comes powered by a COSC-certified Breitling 47B chronometer automatic movement, which is hidden inside a huge round case. Like their other calibers, this one is based on an upgraded mechanism from a third-party manufacturer. In this case, it’s the well-known ETA Valjoux 7754.
Being around 49 millimeters in diameter, this is perhaps the largest member of the clan.
Although the case takes a great deal of a normal wrist’s available space completely covering all of its width (and then some) and also taking a great deal of airspace above it, the volume is used well allowing for greater legibility and making its chronograph a truly usable feature.
By the way, the GMT Chronograph comes equipped with Breitling’s trademark 30-second chronograph with a central second hand performing one revolution in just 30 seconds increasing the chronograph’s accuracy to impressive 1/8th of a second.
Like many contemporary XXL-sized watches that are equipped with standard movements that tend to stay around 30 millimeters in diameter, the dial has its date window placed somewhat awkwardly.
The aperture is located inside the chronograph sub-dial, making it clear that the watch was designed to be huge for its own sake, not for some technical or functional reason.
Like most timekeepers featuring the so-called GMT funtionality, this one also sports a second hour-hand with a 24-hour scale and a rotating inner bezel with the names of 24 cities.
The second hour-hand can be moved forward in one-hour increments with a push of a button located on the left side of the body.
Breitling for Bentley GMT Chronograph will be sold with the traditional Speed bracelet made either of steel or gold (depending on the case material) and will have an extra strap made of black rubber.
See also: Hamilton Khaki X-Mach Pilot
Photos: Breitling
Breitling for Bentley GMT Chronograph specification
Price range: $10,300 (stainless steel, Ref. A4736212-G657) / $44,000 (rose gold, Ref. R4736212-B934)
Movement: Breitling Calibre 47B (based on ETA Valjoux 7754,) automatic, COSC-certified chronometer, 38 jewels, 28,800 vph, Swiss Made
Complications: Chronograph, 24h second timezone, date
Power reserve: 42 hours
Case: Steel / Red Gold
Size: 49.00 mm
Dial: Black / White
Water resistance: 100 meters
Strap: Speed bracelet. Extra rubber strap included
Crystal: Sapphire, antireflective
Back: Solid, engraved
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Bought my first mechanical watch in 1986 and it took me ten more years to realize that I have a problem: at some point in time watches became my passion. Well, it could be worse.