Breitling Navitimer Chronograph Watch’s Day At The Races

It surprised me to learn that Breitling http://www.syrauto.com/high-quality-breitling-navitimer-01-rb012012-ba49-bc-aaa-watches-8a9m.html has close to 100 years of history with horse racing. In fact, Breitling has a lot of history altogether. Like many historic watch brands still alive today, Breitling spent much of its life as a watch movement maker run by engineers. This is an interesting point because, according to long-standing AB012721/C889 replica Walter von Kanel (who has been at the brand for over 40 years), a major difference between watch brands of today and those of yesterday is who ran the show.

He reminds us that A1732024/B868 replica brands used to revolve around new movements. The engineers would develop a new movement and then design a watch around it. Today, watch brands are more business/marketing minded and design watches around concepts, market needs, etc… In essence, the reverse of what they used to do. This phase-shift in timepiece production makes total sense given that people buy watches for different reasons these days.

Knowing that vintage Breitling watches that include their own movements are hot in the collector’s market, I started to ask Mr. von Kanel if this surprised him. Especially since he has been at the brand since they were making their own movements and can quickly recall much of the brand’s history. CEO’s like him are very difficult to find as he really knows so much about his own brand. He ended up giving me a large book on Breitling watch movements that contained each caliber they have ever made. I recommend checking that out for brand collectors.

Was he surprised? I think a bit. Unlike brands like Patek Philippe who’ve known of their collectible status for a while, Breitling has only recently discovered that their heritage includes interest from both a mechanical and activity standpoint. Most of us think about horse racing, Shanghai in the 1920’s, Tennis, and Charles Lindbergh when we think of Breitling. This is part of the brand’s activity history and what they like to focus on today.

A small part of this is Longine’s massive popularity in China; I think they are the number two selling brand in China (behind Omega). That’s a pretty big deal if you think about it from a sales perspective. It also says something about the Chinese market who have an incredible appreciation (and lust) for history. From what I understand, before communism took over in China, brands such as Breitling were associated with much of the cultural and artistic freedom that took place in major cities such as Shanghai. Today’s Chinese people look very fondly upon this period and are drawn to the brands, style, and ideas associated with the time.

We can leave a talk about China for another time, right now my focus (I know, it hasn’t been at all clear up to this point) is Chantilly, France and the Navitimer Chronograph watch. Breitling has been supporting equestrian events more and more, and recently became the official timekeeping sponsor of the Kentucky Derby. Their newest horse racing sponsorship is the support of the very historic Prix de Diane race in Chantilly, France (just outside of Paris). Chantilly is an extremely historic place with a palace that is considered second only to Versailles in importance and impressiveness in France. I have to admit, the palace was pretty cool. Somewhere along the line, one of the princes living there decided to build a palace for horses in the form of what is likely the most impressive of stables in the world. So, horse raising and racing has been common in Chantilly for a very long time.

http://www.zavodpm.ru/blogs/watchesukchm/62530-cartier-pasha-replica-%E2%80%9Cjames-bond%E2%80%9D-watch-review
http://www.umugenzi.com/member/blog_post_view.php?postId=68320
http://watchesukchm.webpin.com/blog_cartier-pasha-replica-james-bond-watch-review.html