Breitling Classic Avi 42
BREITLING COMMEMORATES 70 YEARS OF ITS "CO-PILOT" WITH THREE NEW EDITIONS BASED ON THE REF. 765 AVI ORIGINAL
"People love the forcefulness and sobriety of the Super AVI, but not all wrists take well to the extra-large size and the feeling of wearing a genuine tool-watch," says Breitling CEO Georges Kern. "The Classic AVI gives up some of its functionalities in order to achieve the reduced format that our customers demanded. From now on, the Classic and Super models will coexist in harmony, offering more choice".
With the launch of the 42 mm Classic AVI the general attention is focused on this solid aviator chronograph inspired by the original 1953 Ref. 765 AVI Co-Pilot and four legendary aircraft to which Breitling pays tribute: North American Aviation P-51 Mustang, Vought F4U Corsair, Curtiss P-40 Warhawk, Havilland Mosquito.
Discover the new 42mm Classic Avi by clicking here.
The Breitling pioneer of aviator watches is now considerably more accessible. The new Classic AVI range takes the acclaimed design codes established by the 46 mm Super AVI and transposes them to the 42 mm format. The result is a robust, easy-to-wear watch suitable for almost any wrist.
But let's first go back to the origins of the AVI. In the 1930s, Breitling's Huit Aviation Department built its reputation by creating precision cockpit clocks and wrist chronographs for the then fledgling field of aeronautics.
In 1953, two decades later, Breitling presented the world with another novel flight instrument, the AVI Ref. 765 model: an aviator's chronograph with a 12-hour rotating bezel for recording flight times. Easy to operate and highly legible, the watch became an indispensable tool for pilots, so much so that it was soon called the AVI "Co-Pilot".
In 2021, that pioneering pilot's watch was the inspiration for the Super AVI, a collection of chunky 46mm watches with colours and designs that paid homage to four of history's greatest aircraft: the North American Aviation P-51 Mustang, the Vought F4U Corsair, the Curtiss P-40 Warhawk and the de Havilland Mosquito.
The Classic AVI does not have the GMT complication to which the Super partly owed its corpulence. The model is further refined by the introduction of Breitling's Calibre 23 chronograph movement, which also makes the Classic AVI attractive in terms of value.
One aspect where fans of the range will find no change are the colour schemes dedicated to the four legendary aircraft: black dial and golden brown leather strap representing the versatile Mustang, blue dial with black strap in homage to the naval character of the Corsair, khaki dial with brown strap reflecting the visual camouflage of the Warhawk, and black dial with black ceramic bezel with brown strap representing the Mosquito, the "wooden wonder". Colours from aircraft cockades and insignia add bright touches to the hands and inner dials. The case back, which is engraved with the silhouette of the respective aircraft, is stainless steel on all models, plus an 18K red gold version of the Mustang. All of them can be worn on two options: a stitched calfskin strap or a five-link metal bracelet in a row.
At the same time, the 46 mm Super AVI range welcomes a bold new watch, the Mosquito Night Fighter in black ceramic. Breitling has also surprised collectors with the extremely limited reissue of a 1964 model of the AVI Co-Pilot, a classic sports watch that has been brought back to life.
POWERFUL AND MONOCHROME: THE SUPER AVI MOSQUITO NIGHT FIGHTER
The Super AVI Mosquito Night Fighter takes its inspiration from the Night Fighter 2, an all-black two-seater designed to stealthily soar through the night sky. The watch pays tribute to the aircraft's distinctive dark colours with its black ceramic case, black leather military strap and black dial with anthracite-coloured internal dials. Its overall monochrome contrasts strikingly with the titanium of the pushers, crown and buckle.
As with all Super AVI watches, its distinctive design features large, highly legible Arabic numerals and a striking 46 mm case. Its knurled bezel and fluted crown provide optimal grip, even when wearing gloves. Pilots and other travellers will appreciate the watch's ability to register a second time zone via the 24-hour scale on the inner bezel and the grey-tipped GMT hand. Powering the Super AVI is Breitling's Calibre B04, a COSC-certified in-house movement that provides approximately 70 hours of power reserve. The movement can be viewed through the open titanium caseback, on which the silhouette of the Night Fighter is engraved.
A LIVING LEGEND: THE REF. 765 AVI 1964 RE-EDITION
Introduced in 1953 and nicknamed the "Co-Pilot", the original Ref. 765 AVI was a heavy-duty watch designed for pilots to use in the often merciless conditions of a single-seat cockpit. Its size, readability and ease of use made it a flying tool that could be relied upon.
Today, this watch is the subject of an extremely limited reissue. Each of its 164 pieces faithfully reproduces the design of the model of the time.
They include the hesalite crystal typical of the period, as well as the same baton hour-markers and pencil-shaped luminous hands as on the original. The reissue does not neglect contemporary enhancements, such as the durable amorphous quasi-diamond carbon (ADLC) coating that gives the bezel its black finish. However, to preserve its retro spirit, the watch is fitted with Calibre B09, a contemporary movement from the Breitling manufacture which, of course, works with manual winding. The cuff number of the reissue refers to the original watch presented in 1964 with the inscription "One of 164" engraved on the case back.
CLASSIC AVI CHRONOGRAPH 42 P-51 MUSTANG
When the aircraft 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.
The watch is available on a golden-brown calfskin strap, pilot-style, with folding clasp (22/18 mm), or on a stainless steel bracelet with five links in a row, with butterfly clasp. Black dial with black chronograph counters. Super-LumiNova® luminescent digits, hour-markers and hands with green light emission.
CLASSIC AVI CHRONOGRAPH 42 TRIBUTE TO VOUGHT F4U CORSAIR
As a WWIl naval aircraft, the Corsair had to make tricky takeoffs and landings from carriers and remote landing strips. Speed and lift were of the essence, and the plane 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.
The watch is design with a blue dial with blue chronograph counters, blue Super-LumiNova® luminescent digits, indices and hands with blue light emission and black calfskin strap, pilot style, with folding clasp (22/18 mm) or stainless steel bracelet with five links in a row, with a butterfly clasp inspired by the aircraft's livery.
Pilots and other travelers will appreciate its legibility, wearability, and understated style. The engine of the Classic AVI is the COSC-certified Breitling Caliber 23 movement, which provides approximately 48-hours of power reserve.
CLASSIC AVI CHRONOGRAPH 42 CURTISS WARHAWK
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 many mid-air collisions. The Warhawks defiant shark-mouth nose art sealed its reputation as the rebel of the skies.
Olive green dial with contrasting white chronograph counters inspired by the shark's jaws that adorned the front of the aircraft, with green-emitting Super-LumiNova® luminescent digits, indices and hands. Brown calfskin strap, pilot's style, with folding clasp (22/18 mm), or stainless steel bracelet with five links in a row, with butterfly clasp.
As a true pilot's watch designed to withstand the rigors of a vintage cockpit, the Classic AVI Curtiss P-40 Warhawk features large, highly legible Arabic numerals on the dial and bezel.
CLASSIC AVI CHRONOGRAPH 42 MOSQUITO
In an era when aluminum and steel shortages were common, the engineers behind the de Havilland Mosquito made use of a still plentiful materidl: wood. The "Wooden Wonder" caused shockwaves 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 light bomber, night-fighter, transport and photographic reconnaissance aircraft.
Presented with a black dial with contrasting white chronograph counters, digits, indices and Super-LumiNova® luminescent hands with blue light emission. Its red and orange elements recall the cockades and insignia found on that versatile aircraft nicknamed the "wooden wonder". With a brown calfskin strap in pilot's style with folding clasp (22/18 mm) or a stainless-steel bracelet with five links in a row and a butterfly clasp.
