Breitling Avenger Chronograph 45 Swiss Air Force Team Limited Edition
Return Of The Avenger: Breitling Relaunches The Line With A BANG!
During the Breitling Summit in Los Angeles, the brand presented their novelties to the world with a Hollywood worthy event in the City of Stars.
By Viviana Shanks
Contributor
Much to the delight of watch collectors and aviation aficionados, the Avenger collection is back! Made for men and women of action and inspired by Breitling’s aviation heritage, the collection is adapted to today’s standards, but stays true to the brand’s DNA.
Avenger, which Avenger?
No, we are not talking about Marvel’s Avengers. Instead, we are talking about something more significant and less fictional. Initially launched in 2001, the Breitling Avenger was, and still is, the watch of choice for aviation professionals. Over the years, countless pilots relied on Breitling’s precision in the sky. Starting with the equipping the cockpits in the 1930s, Breitling quickly refocused their attention on the pilot’s wrist in the 1950s with the now-iconic Navitimer. Then, the Avenger was their bolder and more extreme re-edition of the Chronomat, and quickly became a reliable companion for sky-bound adventurers.
Relaunch, but what’s changed?
Since Georges Kern took over as CEO of Breitling, the brand has taken a more modern approach to timekeeping. For the relaunch of the Avenger collection, Breitling reduced the number of references to 14 instead of 41, a very welcome move – not to mention easier to remember.
Ranging from 43mm to 48mm, the new Avenger keeps the original collection’s unflinching identity with its recognizable muscular case that Georges Kern perfectly described it as “sophisticated roughness.” Meant to be bold and robust, it's the perfect timepiece for aerial adventures. Not into flying? Not to worry, the Breitling Avenger is ready for all kinds of adventure. The Avenger Automatic 45 Seawolf, for example, is waterproof to an impressive depth of 300 bars (3,000m), and the Avenger Automatic 43 is bold but slim, fitting perfectly under a cuff.
The Super Avenger Chronograph, with its 48mm case diameter, is the widest and boldest of the collection. With the choice of either a stainless-steel or black DLC-coated titanium case, it’s sure to make a statement on the wrist. And powered by the self-winding Breitling Calibre 13, its 48-hour power reserve mirrors its size. Additionally, it offers perfect legibility due to the wide dial and extremely precise chronograph.
For the midsize piece, there’s a wide array of options. From the striking yellow dial of the Seawolf to the practicality of the GMT, there’s an Avenger for everyone. Breitling also launched a special edition: the Breitling Avenger Swiss Air Force Team Limited Edition. And the Swiss Air Force logo completes the black dial by providing yellow and red accents. The 45mm pieces are ideal for frequent adventurers exploring the sky, land, or ocean depths.
The versatile 43mm versions of the new Avenger collection is the classic pilot’s watch that fits all wrists, male or female. Offering clear legibility and available in either a chronograph or three-hand automatic, it’s the most compact and discreet of the new pieces.
Fasten your seatbelts: Breitling’s Aviation Squad takes off
With the new Avenger line, comes a brand-new Squad of men (and women!) of action. From drone racing to space, and even the Spanish Air Force, meet Breitling’s new Aviation Squad. What struck me most was the sheer diversity in this new squad. True, they all have different backgrounds, flying experience, or come from different generations, but they are all united by the feeling of freedom that flying provides. And at the end of the day, they are all are professionals and the top in their fields.
As Spain’s “Top Gun lady,” Rocío González Torres is a commandant in the Spanish Air Force and our first Aviation Squad member. Becoming the first woman to complete 1,000 hours in the seat of an F-18 fighter jet, it’s easy to understand why she’s a role model for aspiring female pilots - and why Breitling asked her to join the squad.
How about flying with your feet still firmly on the ground? Well, Luke Bannister, the 19-year-old world champion drone pilot, goes on that adventure daily. As a member of the XBlades Racing Team, Luke pilots a drone using a joystick while wearing VR glasses that allow him to see what the drone sees. There are no boundaries in drone racing!
Last but certainly not least, astronaut Scott Kelly. Years ago, Scott received a Breitling watch as a gift from his identical twin brother Mark, who is also an astronaut, which he took to space multiple times. Then in 2012, Scott spent an impressive year aboard the International Space Station (ISS) with his Breitling always on his wrist. Over the course of his career, Scott Kelly has spent an astounding 520 days in space, always with a Breitling watch as his ever-faithful companion.
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