Breitling continues its ‘140 Years of Firsts’ celebrations with a new debut: its first exclusive perpetual calendar chronograph movement.
Breitling unveils limited 140th-anniversary editions of its three flagship models—the Premier, Navitimer, and Chronomat. Each is equipped with the revolutionary Caliber B19, which promises a century of precision without major adjustments and an impressive 96-hour power reserve.
Founded in 1884, Breitling is marking its anniversary with a yearlong celebration of its ‘140 Years of Firsts’. Now, there’s a new addition to that roster of pioneering achievements: the Caliber B19, Breitling’s first perpetual calendar chronograph movement. The new caliber makes its debut in three limited-edition 140th-anniversary pieces representing Breitling’s icons: the Premier, Navitimer, and Chronomat.
“The Premier, the Navitimer, and the Chronomat are the most impactful collections in Breitling’s history. We couldn’t single one out to showcase the new Caliber B19 for our anniversary—it had to be all three.”
Georges Kern, CEO, Breitling
The Caliber B19: a new benchmark
Breitling is one of only a handful of independent watch companies producing its own manufacture movements. It began in 2009 with the Breitling Manufacture Caliber 01, and continued with a progression of chronograph calibers: the B02 with 24-hour function, the B03 split-seconds, and the B04 with GMT. Many more innovations followed. The new Caliber B19 is the brand’s first exclusive perpetual calendar movement, and naturally, it is also a chronograph—Breitling’s specialty from the beginning. It features a full calendar and moonphase, automatically correcting for months of 28, 30, 31 days and leap years, so it can run for nearly a century without a major adjustment. What’s more, it has a remarkable power reserve of approximately 96 hours.
The movement’s solid-gold rotor is decorated with an engraving of Breitling’s historic Montbrillant Manufactory at 3 rue de Montbrillant in La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland. Montbrillant was more than a factory: Its west wing was a villa-style home that housed three generations of the Breitling family. The Montbrillant building, which served as Breitling’s manufacture for more than 80 years, had pride of place in company advertisements. Its name even appeared in the 1930s and ’40s branded onto watch dials.
Celebrating tradition: Breitling’s 140th-anniversary editions
Premier B19 Datora 42 140th Anniversary: The Premier made its debut in 1943 as the watch that took the chronograph out of the cockpit and into society. It was the gentleman’s chronograph, a symbol of good taste that also happened to be a highly functional tool watch. The anniversary edition in solid 18k red gold retains the Premier’s distinctive Arabic numerals, contrasting minutes scale and signature square pushers. The strap is black alligator leather with elegant tone-on-tone topstitching and an 18k gold folding buckle.
Navitimer B19 Chronograph 43 Perpetual Calendar 140th Anniversary: The Navitimer was the first watch for pilots to combine a chronograph with the brand’s proprietary wrist-worn circular slide rule. Originally developed in 1952 for members of the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA), the Navitimer quickly found favor with a broader audience that included celebrities and astronauts—in 1962 it became the first Swiss wristwatch in space. The anniversary edition features the famous slide rule in black on an attention-grabbing 18 k red-gold dial. The strap is alligator leather with contrasting topstitching and an 18 k gold folding buckle.
Super Chronomat B19 44 Perpetual Calendar 140th Anniversary: The Chronomat first launched in 1983 as the official watch of Italy’s aerobatics team, the Frecce Tricolori. The popularity of its design led to a wider release a year later. This quartz-era timing was significant—the Chronomat was instrumental in restoring the popularity mechanical chronographs. The anniversary edition features the model’s distinctive design with four raised rider tabs at the 15-minute marks, an “onion” crown, and a rubber version of the model’s classic Rouleaux bracelet. Ceramic inserts give it a supercharged look. Plus, it marks another first for Breitling: a dramatic skeletonized dial.
“With the Caliber B19 and our anniversary limited editions, we’re making history again. This launch is about being as groundbreaking as our 140 years of firsts demand.”
Georges Kern, CEO, Breitling
Exclusive Anniversary Collector’s Items
Each anniversary limited-edition is presented with a sumptuous wooden, suede-lined watch box that can be configured to display up to three timepieces. Additional features include a drawer for storage and a removable travel pouch. Owners will also receive a deluxe edition of the book Breitling: 140 Years in 140 Stories (Rizzoli, 2024) personalised with their selected anniversary piece on the cover, and showcasing Breitling’s illustrious heritage in vivid storytelling and photography.
Technical Specifications:
PREMIER B19 DATORA 42 140TH ANNIVERSARY
Reference: RB19401A1B1P1
WATCH MOVEMENT
Caliber: Breitling Manufacture Caliber B19
Diameter: 30 millimeters
Depth: 8.53 millimeters
Winder: self-winding mechanical, bidirectional with ball bearing,
22 k red gold rotor with an engraving of Breitling’s historic Montbrillant Manufactory
Power reserve: approximately 96 hours
Number of components: 374
Balance frequency: 28,800 a/h or 4 hertz
Chronograph: column-wheel, vertical clutch, 1/4th second, 30-minute
Display: hour, minute, second, perpetual calendar
Certification: COSC-certified
CASE
Material: 18 k red gold
Diameter: 42 millimeters
Thickness: 15.6 millimeters
Height (upper lug tip to lower lug tip): 50.03 millimeters
Water resistance: up to 10 bars (100 meters)
Glass: cambered sapphire, glareproofed on both sides
Case back: screwed 18 k red gold, cambered sapphire crystal
Crown: 18 k red gold, non screw-locked, two gaskets
Bezel: fixed 18 k red gold
DIAL/HANDS
Black with tone-on-tone chronograph counters
Super-LumiNova® luminescent hour and minute hand
STRAP
Black alligator leather strap with an 18 k red gold folding buckle
Size (lug/buckle): 22/18 mm
PRICE
RRP £48,000
NAVITIMER B19 CHRONOGRAPH 43 PERPETUAL CALENDAR 140TH ANNIVERSARY
Reference: RB19101A1H1P1
WATCH MOVEMENT
Caliber: Breitling Manufacture Caliber B19
Diameter: 30 millimeters
Depth: 8.53 millimeters
Winder: self-winding mechanical, bidirectional with ball bearing,
22 k red gold rotor with an engraving of Breitling’s historic Montbrillant Manufactory
Power reserve: approximately 96 hours
Number of components: 374
Balance frequency: 28,800 a/h or 4 hertz
Chronograph: column-wheel, vertical clutch, 1/4th second, 30-minute
Display: hour, minute, second, perpetual calendar
Certification: COSC-certified
CASE
Material: 18 k red gold
Diameter: 43 millimeters
Thickness: 15.62 millimeters
Height (upper lug tip to lower lug tip): 49.07 millimeters
Water resistance: up to 3 bars (30 meters)
Glass: cambered sapphire, glareproofed on both sides
Case back: screwed 18 k red gold, cambered sapphire crystal
Crown: 18 k red gold, non screw-locked, two gaskets
Bezel: 18 k red gold, bidirectional with circular slide rule
DIAL/HANDS
18 k red gold dial, indexes, hour, minute and sub-counter hands
Super-LumiNova® luminescent indexes, hour and minute hand
STRAP
Black alligator leather strap with an 18 k red gold folding buckle
Size (lug/buckle): 22/18 mm
PRICE
RRP £48,000
SUPER CHRONOMAT B19 44 PERPETUAL CALENDAR 140TH ANNIVERSARY
Reference: RB19301A1G1S1
WATCH MOVEMENT
Caliber: Breitling Manufacture Caliber B19
Diameter: 30 millimeters
Depth: 8.53 millimeters
Winder: self-winding mechanical, bidirectional with ball bearing, bidirectional with ball bearing,
22 k red gold rotor with an engraving of Breitling’s historic Montbrillant Manufactory
Power reserve: approximately 96 hours
Number of components: 374
Balance frequency: 28,800 a/h or 4 hertz
Chronograph: column-wheel, vertical clutch, 1/4th second, 30-minute
Display: hour, minute, second, perpetual calendar
Certification: COSC-certified
CASE
Material: 18 k red gold
Diameter: 44 millimeters
Thickness: 15.35 millimeters
Height (upper lug tip to lower lug tip): 53.5 millimeters
Water resistance: up to 10 bars (100 meters)
Glass: cambered sapphire, glareproofed on both sides
Case back: screwed 18 k red gold, cambered sapphire crystal
Crown: 18 k red gold, screw-locked, two gaskets
Bezel: 18 k red gold with black ceramic insert, unidirectional ratcheted, indexes and Super-LumiNova® coated rider tab numerals
DIAL/HANDS
Gray skeletonized dial with black sapphire chronograph counters
Super-LumiNova® luminescent hour and minute hand
STRAP
Rouleaux-inspired rubber strap with an 18 k red gold folding clasp
Size (lug/buckle): 22/18 mm
PRICE
RRP £48,000
For more information please visit Breitling