TIME ZONE
BY CAROL BESLER
BREITLING
taps its heritage
REVISITING THE PREMIER, DUOGRAPH, AND AVI
M ost Swiss luxury watches are inspired by vintage pieces that hail from the days when watchmakers in the Swiss Jura mountains invented everything that still counts as the foundation of mechanical watchmaking. Most top brands have catalogs rooted in this heritage. A great example of a brand whose modern timepieces are inspired by the past is Breitling, and the Premier Duograph is one
of its most important new releases. First introduced in 1943, the Premier was one of the first chronograph watches made for the public rather than for pilots and military professionals. The Premier Duograph was one of the earliest rattrapante chronographs designed for the wrist. Breitling decided to relaunch the Duograph because it is the most complex variation of the chronograph. The new Duograph is a modern interpretation of the original, with technical updates, including an in-house movement, the Breitling B15. The Premier B01 Chronograph is another modernized heritage piece from the brand. In 1943, Breitling decided to create a chronograph that was not only a tool watch but also a style statement. The result was the Premier, and it was a hit. Reintroduced by Breitling in 2021, the Premier Heritage chronograph collection revived the elegant, wrist-friendly model. This year, Breitling added six new references to the Premier B01 Chronograph 42 collection, all newly powered by the self-winding Breitling Manufacture Caliber 01. They include new dial shades in salmon, blue, green, black, and cream. and a choice of alligator leather straps or seven-row metal bracelets. Breitling preserved distinctive vintage- Premier design details, including the smooth fixed bezel, twin-register dial, streamlined rectangular pushers, and applied Arabic numerals.
Premier B15 Duograph 42.
Premier B01 Chronograph 42.
30 RUMMELE’S JEWELERS MAGAZINE
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