Watchonista: Volume 04 Exclusive Preview – Breitling Takes Sustainability Mainstream with Its 2023 Chronomat Releases
Now that Watchonista: Volume 04 is officially available at Breitling boutiques across North America, here is another sneak peek of one of our magazine-only editorials.
By Barbara Palumbo
Contributor
The shift in the tide started the moment CEO Georges Kern took to the metaphorical helm of the “Breitling tall ship” (which we will name it for the sake of this article) in 2017. He placed two sun-kissed hands solidly on the ship’s wheel and promptly took the brand into unknown waters, withstanding choppy seas and intense storms and all with multiple Albatross in tow.
Now it’s 2023, almost six years later, and we have yet to disembark from our voyage with Breitling and Kern. But why would we? The “Breitling tall ship” is on an ethical journey, docking at ports of responsibility that trade in lessons from which the entire watch industry could learn.
Port #1: Lab-Grown Diamonds & the Super Chronomat Automatic 38
In the fourth quarter of 2020, Breitling announced that by early 2021 it planned to use packaging made from recycled materials (predominantly plastic bottles, which can be recycled more than once).
Then the brand upped its green game in late 2022 when it introduced the Super Chronomat Automatic 38 series. And for the first time in the company’s history, lab-grown diamonds were used…
Port #2: Artisanal Gold & the Super Chronomat Automatic 38 “Origins”
For the second stop on this journey, Breitling takes us to a world that makes us think about precious metals in a way we may never have before.
The Breitling Super Chronomat Automatic 38 “Origins” – available on either a white rouleaux-inspired rubber strap with pin buckle or a beige alligator strap with pin buckle – is, in appearance and statistics, not much different than the Super Chronomat Automatic 38.
But what this “Origins” edition boasts that its sister Super Chronomat 38 doesn’t is traceability with regard to the gold used in the watch…
Port #3: The Future…
(Photography by Liam O'Donnell
Power, Grace, and Balance: The Dance of the Breitling Navitimer 36 & 32
By Watchonista
An iconic pilot watch and ballet? Seems an unlikely combination? Read on.
Watchonista: Volume 04 Exclusive Preview – Breitling’s Premier Moment
By Mike Espindle
, Executive Editor
Now that Watchonista: Volume 04 is officially available at Breitling boutiques across North America, here is another sneak peek of one of our magazine-only...
Watchonista: Volume 04 Exclusive Preview – Seiko Celebrates Japan’s First Wristwatch with the King Seiko “Kikkoumon”
By Rhonda Riche
, Editor-At-Large
Now that Watchonista: Volume 04 is officially available at Breitling boutiques across North America, here is a sneak peek of one of our magazine-only...