Breitling are, of course, a watchmaker that require no introduction so whenever they’ve got a new collection hitting the shelves, horology aficionados will inevitably sit up and take notice. This is especially true when said collection is as aesthetically astounding as the Super AVI Collection. The Swiss watchmakers have really excelled themselves with this release and is a celebration of aviation history with designs that take their inspiration from the original 1953 “Co-Pilot” Ref. 765 AVI aviator’s watch and four legendary planes: the North American Aviation P-51 Mustang, the Vought F4U Corsair, the Curtiss P-40 Warhawk, and the de Havilland Mosquito.
The Breitling Super AVI Collection embodies that sense of nostalgia for the early days of aviation when pilots relied on their watches as onboard tools and offers some truly astounding timepieces which, safe to say, we’ve fallen pretty hard for here at The Coolector. This awesome new series of watches from Breitling proves that you don’t have to be a pilot or vintage-aircraft buff to appreciate the exceptional craftsmanship and rugged design of this type of aviation inspired timepiece.
EYES ON THE SKIES
This amazing new collection from Breitling comes in five unique versions which are designed to honour four powerful and memorable aircraft, whose filigree silhouettes adorn the watches’ sapphire case backs. You can see the watches that make up the AVI Collection from Breitling below:
- The Super AVI P-51 Mustang pays tribute to the best all-around fighter plane of its era in two distinct versions: a stainless-steel case with a black dial and gold-brown leather strap, and an 18 k red gold version with an anthracite dial and a black leather strap.
- The Super AVI Tribute to Vought F4U Corsair boasts a blue dial, tone-on-tone chronograph counters, and a black leather strap that take their design cues from the characteristic livery of the record-breaking naval aircraft.
- The Super AVI Curtiss Warhawk, with its military-green dial, white contrasting chronograph counters, and red accents, it plays on its namesake’s famous shark-mouth nose art that gave the plane its unmistakable identity.
- The Super AVI Mosquito has a combination polished and satin-brushed black ceramic bezel and a black dial with white contrasting chronograph counters. Its red and orange elements recall the roundels and markings found on the versatile plane, dubbed the “Wooden Wonder”.
The Super AVI’s eye-catching and unique design includes large, highly legible Arabic numerals on the dial and bezel. Its sturdy case measures 46 mm, and the oversized crown sits at 3 o’clock. Knurled bezels provide optimal grip, and top-stitched calfskin straps give a nod to the seams found on leather flight gear of the era. Pilots and other world adventurers will really appreciate the ability to track a second time zone using the 24-hour marking on the inner bezel and the red-tipped GMT hand. The engine of the Super AVI is the COSC-certified Breitling Manufacture Caliber B04 movement, which provides around 70 hours of power reserve.
While the Super AVI is purpose built to bring us back to the days before digital timekeepers when pilots’ watches were their trusted flight instruments, its no-nonsense aesthetic and enduring precision are what make the Super AVI just as relevant in today’s competitive watch market. If you love aviation inspired timepieces and looking for a luxury addition to your watch line up, you are sure to find something that more than fits the bill within Breitling’s new AVI Collection.
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