In 2003 Breitling became the first watchmaker entrusted to design an onboard clock for Bentley’s flagship model, the Continental GT. Bentley is delighted to announce the renewal of its long-standing partnership with Breitling, which will see a new generation of watches which combine purpose with style, dedicated to everyday elegance. A Trail-blazing partnership of 15 years formally renewed Special Bentley editions to be integrated into core collection.

The partnership will see Breitling in­tegrating special Bentley editions into its core product offering rather than in a separate Breitling for Bentley collection. The first of these extraordinary watches is the Premier B01 Chronograph 42 Bentley British Rac­ing Green. Powered by Breitling’s flagship Manufacture Caliber 01 in-house mechanical movement, which is visible through a unique transparent caseback with a metalised Bentley logo, the watch has an impressive 70-hour power reserve.

These timepieces also have an engraved plate with a “Bentley” inscription. Inspi­ration for the design of the plate was taken from the dashboard of the historic supercharged 1929 “Blower” Bentley. The watch is distinguished by its striking British racing green dial and is available with a choice of a stainless-steel bracelet or a British racing green leather strap that matches the dial. Contrasting subdials are posi­tioned at 3 and 9 o’clock, and a date window is located at 6 o’clock.

A Proud History and a Personal Connection

Breitling’s association with motoring has a long history. Its onboard chronograph, launched for aviation in 1931, was also designed for use on automobile dashboards. Further, there is a personal connection between Bentley and Breitling that can be traced back some 70 years. Willy Breitling, the visionary inventor of the sec­ond chronograph pusher and the grandson of found­er Léon Breitling, was a devoted Bentley fan. From the late 1940s, the flamboyant watchmaker was a familiar sight on the roads between Geneva and La Chaux-de-Fonds at the wheel of one of his many Bentleys. Be­tween 1924 and 1930, the famous “Bentley Boys” won the 24 Hours of Le Mans race five times. That success, however, did not only remain a part of the brand’s past. In 2003, Bentley returned to Le Mans and took the first and second place finishes. At the world’s most famous endurance race, Breitling was Team Bentley’s proud main sponsor and created a limited-edition chronograph, the Bentley Le Mans, to celebrate the feat.

Breitling has long been known for its robust “instru­ments for professionals,” but has also created elegant, luxurious watches that appeal to an even broader de­mographic base. As Breitling and Bentley explore the possibilities offered by their renewed partnership, these two iconic brands look forward to sharing great new products with old friends and introducing them­selves to discerning men and women all over the world.