Yesterday November 17th, 2021, we gathered at the Commemorative Air Force facility at the Dallas Executive Airport to see the new Breitling Super AVI collection. This new collection celebrates four North American legendary planes with designs inspired by Breitling’s original 1953 ‘Co-Pilot’ aviator’s watch reference 765 AVI. The four legendary planes are the North American Aviation P-51 Mustang, the Vought F4U Corsair, the Curtiss P-40 Warhawk, and the de Havilland Mosquito.
In the 1930s, Breitling’s Huit Aviation department made its name inventing precision cockpit clocks for the then-nascent field of aeronautics. Two decades later, in 1953, Breitling introduced the world to yet another novel flight instrument, this time in wearable form. The Reference 765 AVI pilot’s watch was an instant hit and a first of its kind that inspired many others. Beloved by aviators, it quickly became known as the “Co-Pilot.” In 2020, Breitling also launched the AVI Ref. 765 1953 Re-Edition, a carefully researched and crafted re-edition honoring this classic chronograph’s legacy.
“This collection embodies that sense of nostalgia for the early days of aviation when pilots relied on their watches as onboard tools,” says Breitling CEO Georges Kern. “But you don’t have to be a pilot or vintage-aircraft buff to appreciate the exceptional craftsmanship and rugged design.”
“Our watchmaking DNA is what dominates here, while the interpretations of the four aircraft give the series its emotion and bold graphic appeal. Taken together, these elements evoke the spirit of early flight,” says Breitling Creative Director Sylvain Berneron. “We can’t forget that Breitling pioneered aviation tool watches like the Ref. 765 AVI. That heritage is so strong, we had to not only keep it intact, but rewrite it for the 21st century.”
About the Four Legendary Planes
When the P-51 Mustang was built in a mere 120 days, even its developer, North American Aviation, didn’t anticipate what a powerhouse it had on its hands. The P-51’s low-drag wings and engine- cooling system – considered experimental when the single-seat fighter first took off in 1940 —gave it unprecedented speed and range. The addition of a Merlin engine expanded the plane’s performance to high altitudes, making it the best all-purpose fighter of its time.
As a WWII naval aircraft, the Vought F4U Corsair had to make tricky takeoffs and landings from carriers and remote landing strips. Speed and lift were of the essence, and the Corsair came through with flying colors, becoming the first single-engine fighter to crack the 400 mph —640 km/h— mark, while also providing an exceptional rate of climb. Its ‘bent-wing’ design, oversized propeller, and signature blue livery make it an emblem of aviation history.
Conceived as a pursuit aircraft, the Curtiss P-40 Warhawk first flew in 1938 and quickly proved itself as a master of agility. It wasn’t just the plane’s capacity for pulling jaw-dropping turns that gave it an in-flight edge, its robust structure meant it could tolerate harsh weather conditions and even severe combat damage. The Warhawk’s defiant shark-mouth nose art sealed its reputation as the rebel of the skies.
In an era when aluminum and steel shortages were common, the engineers behind the de Havilland Mosquito made use of a still plentiful material: wood. The ‘Wooden Wonder’ caused shock waves when it outperformed its metal contemporaries to become one of the fastest planes built between 1940 and 1950. Its superior maneuverability allowed it to multitask in roles as far-ranging as a light bomber, night fighter, transport, and photographic reconnaissance aircraft.
Things to Know About the Watches
The new Breitling Super AVI collection includes five unique versions all fitted with 46 mm x 15.99 mm cases —they wear smaller than their actual size and more like a 44 mm timepiece on a 7.5” wrist—, red-tipped GMT second time zone hands, extremely legible Arabic numerals on their dials, knurled bi-directional graduated bezels, oversized crowns, sapphire display case backs, very supple leather straps with deployant folding clasps, and they are all powered by the in-house Breitling calibre B04, an automatic chronograph movement with a vertical clutch, COSC-certified and which provides a power reserve of 70 hours when fully wound. All watches are water-resistant to 100 meters.
Breitling Super AVI B04 Chronograph GMT P-51 Mustang Stainless Steel
The Breitling Super AVI B04 Chronograph GMT P-51 Mustang reference AB04453A1B1X1 pays homage to the best all-around fighter plane of its era in two distinct versions: one in stainless steel with a black dial with vintage-colored superluminova, gold-brown leather strap, and the other in an 18K red gold version with an anthracite dial and a black leather strap exclusive to Breitling boutiques and Breitling.com. The dial is extremely beautiful and the vintage-colored lume works very well alongside the light brown strap, giving this watch a great retro-modern look and feel. A true favorite from these new five watches just released.
Sticker Price $10,100 USD. For more info on Breitling click here.
Breitling Super AVI B04 Chronograph GMT P-51 Mustang 18K Red Gold
The Breitling Super AVI B04 Chronograph GMT P-51 Mustang in 18K red gold reference RB04451A1B1X1 is a very sexy watch that pays homage to the best all-around fighter plane of its era. Equipped with an anthracite dial with white Arabic numerals and a black leather strap with white contrast stitching, this watch is exclusive to Breitling boutiques and Breitling.com. In the metal, this watch is relatively light for a solid gold piece but really good-looking. The grey and black color combination along with the warm tones of the 18K red gold works extremely well. Our second favorite from these new five watches presented yesterday.
Sticker Price $23,650 USD. For more info on Breitling click here.
Breitling Super AVI B04 Chronograph GMT Tribute to Vought F4U Corsair
The Breitling Super AVI B04 Chronograph GMT Tribute to Vought F4U Corsair reference AB04451A1C1X1 features a blue dial, tone-on-tone chronograph counters, and a black leather strap that take their design cues from the characteristic livery of the record-breaking naval aircraft. While blue dials are a thing and are very popular nowadays, we feel that this one falls short. Either the anti-reflective treatment doesn’t allow for the color of the dial to really come through or the finish of the dial makes it appear almost black unless the sun is hitting the dial directly.
Sticker Price $10,100 USD. For more info on Breitling click here.
Breitling Super AVI B04 Chronograph GMT Curtiss Warhawk
The Breitling Super AVI B04 Chronograph GMT Curtiss Warhawk reference AB04452A1L1X1 with its military-green dial, white contrasting chronograph counters, and red accents, plays on its namesake’s famous shark-mouth nose art that gave the plane its unmistakable identity. While we definitely prefer this model over the blue dial Breitling Super AVI B04 Chronograph GMT Tribute to Vought F4U Corsair, we also feel that either the anti-reflective treatment doesn’t allow for the color of the dial to really come through or the finish of the dial makes it appear almost black unless the sun is hitting the dial directly. Still, a gorgeous watch with a great military feel to it. The red accents on the dial pop really nicely against the military olive green backdrop.
Sticker Price $10,100 USD. For more info on Breitling click here.
Breitling Super AVI B04 Chronograph GMT Mosquito
The Breitling Super AVI B04 Chronograph GMT Mosquito reference YB04451A1B1X1 features a combination polished and satin-brushed black ceramic bezel and a black dial with white contrasting chronograph counters. Its burnt orange/red accents on the hands and the 30-minute counter recall the roundels and markings found on the versatile plane, dubbed the “Wooden Wonder”. The Breitling Super AVI B04 Chronograph GMT Mosquito is our second favorite watch from this new lineup.
Sticker Price $10,250 USD. For more info on Breitling click here.
