BY JOVAN KRSTEVSKI
Willy Breitling’s 1940s design of the Premier was the brand’s first timepiece that was solely designed with style in mind, featuring elegant touches and retro-modern elements. The heritage-inspired Premier, which carries on the brand’s tradition of developing the modern Chronograph, embodies Breitling’s most well-known innovations. Willy Breitling asserted that the Premier embodies his “unmistakable stamp of impeccable taste”. Breitling recently unveiled the Premier B21 Chronograph Tourbillon 42, a collection of three brand-new chronographs fashioned from precious metals and proudly displaying a tourbillon in the midst of the dial at 12 o’clock. These three models, Léon Breitling (ref. RB2120211G1P1), Gaston Breitling (ref. B2120A61B1P1), and Willy Breitling (ref. LB2120171C1P1), are inspired by the company’s founding fathers.
The case is 42 mm x 15.2 mm and made of precious metals in all three models. For Léon Breitling, it’s a solid 18k red gold case with a silver dial and a brown alligator strap with a matching red-gold fold-over clasp. The second one is called Gaston Breitling, after Léon Breitling’s son, and it has a solid 18k white gold case with an anthracite dial and a black alligator strap with a white gold clasp. Finally, there is the Willy Breitling model, which is made of platinum and has an admiral-blue dial and a black alligator strap. Apart from the color variations, the case has the same shape and size profile, with signature rectangular chronograph pushers and the large non-screwed crown winding crown at 3 o’clock. The case’s water resistance rating is approximately 100 meters / 330 feet (10 ATM).
The tourbillon is prominently displayed at 12 o’clock on all three models. The dials are protected by cambered Sapphire crystals with anti-glare treatment on both the inner and outer surfaces. The watches’ opposite sides are outfitted with screw-down exhibition casebacks. The sapphire crystal caseback is domed to reveal the B21 movement.
The B21 movement was created in cooperation with La Chaux-de-Fonds-based manufacture La Joux-Perret, a specialized movement manufacturer. The movement beats at Hz (28,800 vibrations per hour), has 55 hours of power reserve, and features an oscillating weight and the reverse side of the tourbillon in contrasting 18k gold.
Breitling Premier B21 Chronograph Tourbillon 42 has prices set at Euro 56,000 / US$ 57,000 for the Léon Breitling and Gaston Breitling variants and Euro 66,000 / US$ 67,000 for the Willy Breitling variant.
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