Celebrating the Veteran’s Day, a holiday, which is observed in the United States in order to honor veterans of all wars, the Swiss watchmaker has issued the new special edition Breitling American Tribute that is based on their current Chronomat collection of luxury “aviators.”
Well, it looks like we have yet another watch model that actually serves a good cause.
According to a recently disseminated press release, the Swiss watchmaking brand Breitling has partnered with a U.S.-based Fisher House Foundation: a non-profit organization, which, according to Wikipedia “is best known for the network of comfort homes built on the grounds of major military and VA medical centers.”
As it becomes clear from FHF’s press release, the whole revenue from selling the timekeepers is going to be donated to Fisher House Foundation in order to help it to carry on its noble mission.
The press release is curt at best, but, judging by the information that I was able to gather, the American Tribute is apparently based on the 2010 Chronomat 44 automatic timekeeper.
Powered by Breitling’s fairly new Caliber 01 self-winding movement, which is designed and assembled solely in-house, the watch is an officially certified chronometer that offers not only an impressive power reserve of 70 hours but is also accurate and dependable: a crucial thing for a pilot’s watch.
From the visual point of view, the only major difference between the base model and this limited edition piece is that the latter is equipped with a solid case back with a “United We Stand” engraving and sports an unusual black and blue color of its dial.
As usual, the dial pleases the eye with its high contrast and legibility.
Its three sub-dials are served for a small seconds display, which is placed at 9 o’clock, a 30-minute and 12-hour chronograph totalizers at 3 and 6 hours respectively, and a small date aperture squeezed between 4 and 5 hours.
That’s, basically, all that we know about this edition besides the fact that it is going to be issued in a limited lot of just 50 pieces. Considering how limited the production run will be and taking into account that it is powered by their own new Caliber 01 self-winding mechanism, I would say that the MSRP of less than $9000 looks actually good for this watch. First, it will soon become a highly collectible rarity and, second, buying one (even despite the fact that is manufactured in Switzerland) would be a sort of a patriotic thing to do, wouldn’t it?
See also: Breitling Colt 44 SuperQuartz
Photos: Breitling
Breitling American Tribute specification
Price: $8950 (MSRP)
Movement: Breitling Caliber 01 (B01), automatic, COSC-certified chronometer, in-house, Swiss Made
Number of jewels: 47
Movement frequency: 28,800 vph
Functions: Hours, minutes, seconds, chronograph, date, slide rule
Power reserve: 70 hours
Case: Stainless steel, polished and satin-finished
Shape: Tonneau
Bezel shape: Round
Size: 44.00 mm
Case height: 16.95 mm
Lug width: 22.00 / 20.00 mm
Dial: Black and blue
Hour markers: Applied, luminous
Hands: Luminous
Water resistance: 500 meters
Strap: Stainless steel Pilot bracelet
Crystal: Sapphire, antireflective on both sides
Back: Solid, engraved