Two icons of speed finally share the same grid. From the racetrack to the wrist, this partnership feels like a natural fit. Here’s why the Breitling × Aston Martin alliance just makes sense!
Two brands synonymous with speed and racing, Breitling partners with Aston Martin and Aston Martin Aramco Formula OneTM Team as the Official Watch Partner. For more than a century, the stories of the two brands have moved in parallel to each other, Breitling being the one to master the measuring of time, while Aston Martin has mastered the art of racing.
Now, this joint partnership brings these shared values together in the world’s most competitive motorsporting stage, uniting precision engineering with performance-driven design and the pursuit of excellence that drives both of these giants in their fields.
“Two names born from a fascination with speed: one measured it, the other mastered it.”
The collaboration between the Swiss watchmaker and the British carmaker spans the full Aston Martin universe, from the high-performance driven vehicles that are handcrafted in Gaydon and St Athan to the team’s pursuit of glory in Formula 1®. Rather than having a single-pronged approach, Breitling has diversified in how the brand is represented with Aston Martin. This partnership integrates Breitling across Aston Martin’s road cars, motorsport activities, and global brand presence.
This full approach allows Breitling to live both on the track and beyond it, connecting Aston Martin’s world of high-octane performance with everyday luxury and high-end luxury craftsmanship.
Breitling & Motorsport: Timing at the Highest Level
Breitling’s connection to the world of motorsport spans decades, to the earliest days of the automobile. Breitling’s precision timing instruments date back to 1907, when Leon Breitling introduced the Vitesse for the first time. Vitesse is the French word for ‘Speed’, as this instrument was the chronograph to measure speeds up to 250km/h. Due to this high range of measurement, the Vitesse was adopted by the Swiss local police, who used it to issue the first speeding tickets!
In 1952, we had the introduction of one of the most iconic watches in the world of horology: the Navitimer. Developed to be used as a wrist-worn cockpit instrument for aviators, the chronograph’s circular slide rule allowed pilots to calculate the speed, time intervals, and also the fuel consumption rate.
An interesting fact about the Navitimer that some may not know is that, in the 1960s Formula 1® era, drivers Graham Hill and Jim Clark, who were also aircraft pilots and Formula 1® competitors, wore Breitling Navitimers. This would be the first instance of the Navitimer being on the stage of the most prestigious motorsporting event, turning the timepiece into a trackside essential due to its many useful features.
Then, in 1960, Breitling released another chronograph timepiece dedicated to a new generation of speed-and-style seekers. As Breitling put it, “Willy Breitling, the founder’s grandson, shook off the austerity of postwar watchmaking with another watch, the Top Time”. The Top time was born in an era that was defined by rising car culture, motorsport heroes, and mechanical innovation. This was also a period when racing became so much more than a gentleman’s sport, which made the Top Time a watch that was aligned perfectly with speed and timing from day one!
The Toptime was also one of the first watches to appear alongside Aston Martin, making it a historically significant bridge between the two brands. The Breitling Top Time appeared on screen on Sean Connery’s wrist in 007 Thunderball (released in 1965), with Aston Martin’s iconic DB5 making a reappearance in the movie as well. With both powerhouses appearing in James Bond’s world, it quietly cemented their association with sophistication and refined performance.
“Aston Martin and Breitling have crossed paths at key moments in design and culture. The partnership is a perfect showcase of excellence, design mastery, and performance, something that is integral to everything that Aston Martin puts its name to.” Adrian Hallmark, Chief Executive Officer of Aston Martin.
Aston Martin: From British Racing Heritage to Formula 1 Grid
Just like Breitling with its Swiss watchmaking pedigree, Aston Martin is a name that has long stood for British high-performance, elegance, and motorsporting history. The company was first founded in 1913 by Lionel Martin and Robert Bamford, with the brand quickly establishing itself as a manufacturer of refined sporting cars.
While Aston Martin certainly had the performance, the brand wasn’t renowned for just building high-performance vehicles. Aston Martin produced cars that looked, sounded, and felt incredible, machines that were designed to stir emotion. Much like Breitling has with their iconic collections throughout the years, built not just for precision, but to evoke emotions of confidence and desire.
In the mid-20th century, Aston Martin was firmly positioned in motorsports, cementing its name in the world’s greatest racing stages. Even though the brand made its debut in Formula 1® in 1959, one of the brand’s most notable successes also came in that year. Aston Martin won their first and only outright victory in the prestigious 24 Hours Le Mans endurance race, with a historic 1-2 win for the team.
As we have seen above, Aston Martin grew beyond motorsport, becoming a cultural icon through films like James Bond. Aston Martin’s models, such as the DB5, became icons over time, being a symbol of luxury, sophistication, intelligence (Q’s gadgets!), and ofcourse understated power. This cinematic presence alone elevated Aston Martin into a luxury global brand, bringing high-performance engineering with gorgeous looks!
“Aston Martin builds cars that are as much about presence as performance. We share that same heritage of iconic design: every line, finish, and proportion has purpose. Nothing is left to chance.”
Georges Kern, CEO of Breitling.
Why the Breitling x Aston Martin Partnership works
“Our pursuit of a World Championship demands partners who match our ambition.”
Lawrence Stroll, Executive Chairman of Aston Martin and the Aston Martin Aramco Formula OneTM Team.
While this is a new venture for Breitling, with Aston Martin being the first car manufacturer they have sponsored in Formula 1®, it just seems like a naturally fitting partnership. Personally, I’m really excited about this partnership and happy to see that Breitling finally made it onto the track. With so much motorsporting pedigree, it’s only fitting that Breitling deserves a seat at the table.
This partnership works because both brands are built on performance under pressure, where Breitling has built chronographs to perform in flight and racing conditions. Whether it’s Aston Martin competing in Formula 1®, or Breitling operating a mechanical chronograph, precision and reliability are non-negotiable.
New AMR26 (Aston Martin’s 2026 Formula 1® car) will be unveiled on 9 February,
Both manufacturer’s have a strong emotional pull, creating products that are designed to be felt and experienced, not just admired for their specifications. And this is exactly the case with the new season for Formula 1. With Adrian Newey at the helm of design, he has brought in a new era for the Aston Martin Aramco Formula 1® team, with ambitions firmly set on competing at the front of the grid. In parallel, to celebrate this partnership, Breitling has unveiled a new timepiece based on the iconic Navitimer, bringing together racing ambition and mechanical excellence.
The Navitimer B01 Chronograph 43 Aston Martin Aramco Formula One Team
The first timepiece to celebrate this wonderful new timepiece is none other than a Navitimer. I honestly can’t think of a more fitting choice, with the Navitimer being one of the most iconic timepieces in the world of watchmaking. Breitling have specifically limited the production of this new Navitimer to 1,959 models, representing the year of Aston Martin’s first stint in Formula 1®.
When I first saw this Navitimer in press viewings, I was honestly blown away by how stunning it looked. Having already owned a Navitimer, I may be a little bit biased here, but I have to say both Breitling and Aston Martin have conjured up something special here.
Every element of the Navitimer B01 Chronograph 43 Aston Martin Aramco Formula OneTM Team has been designed aesthetically to reflect the passion for performance from both powerhouses. The timepiece is beautifully decorated, with Aston Martin Racing Green and lime accents drawn from the Aston Martin Aramco livery shown throughout the watch.
The timepiece retains the Navitimer’s iconic slide rule design, with the tri-counter chronograph functionality as well. Having the white outer ring, with two black rings on either side, works quite well aesthetically, as it draws your eye almost immediately to the dial. The white sub-counters, the rectangular indices, and the sharp and refined Superlumi-Nova-filled hour and minute hands then complement this. The dial itself is made from carbon fibre, a material often found in the cockpits of Formula 1® cars.
This is quite possibly one of the busiest dials you’ll find on the watch market, and to me, that’s quite okay. We have to keep in mind that this is a watch designed for performance, for a Formula 1® team, so technical details should be at the forefront here. Aside from the chronograph and the multiple features of the slide rule, there is also a neatly hidden date window at the bottom of the 6 o’clock sub-dial. Colour matched perfectly to blend in with the rest of the sub-dial.
For this very special creation, Breitling has given the Navitimer a ‘world first’. This Navitimer comes exclusively with a lightweight titanium case, making it stronger and more comfortable on the wrist compared to the standard edition. Again, this use of lightweight titanium and carbon-fibre is a reference to the high-tech materials used in Formula 1®.
The movement, in particular the winding rotor, has been redesigned as well. It is made of tungsten coated with high-durability PVD (physical vapor deposition) and features the Aston Martin Formula OneTM Team logo. Additional caseback engravings include “One of 1959” and the phrase “Instruments for Drivers.”
From the chronograph to the car, from aviation to racing, Breitling and Aston Martin have long been united by a shared fascination with speed. This relationship now takes another epic twist in the story, with the two brands uniting to take centre stage in Formula 1® this season.
The partnership officially comes to life when the AMR26 (Aston Martin’s 2026 Formula 1® car) is unveiled on 9 February, before making its on-track debut at the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne from 6 to 8 March, 2026. As this relationship continues to evolve, fans of both brands can expect a series of exclusive releases across the multi-year partnership, celebrating the connection between time and speed, now reunited on the world’s most competitive motorsport stage!
Reference: Navitimer B01 Chronograph 43 Aston Martin Aramco Formula One Team (Ref. EB01381A1B1X1)
Specifications
- Dimensions: 43mm x 13.69mm thick, lug-to-lug: 49.07mm
- Case Material: Titanium
- Dial: Carbon Fiber Dial with touches of green Super-LumiNova® luminescent hour and minute hands and indexes
- Movement: Breitling Manufacture Self-Winding Calibre B01
- Power Reserve: Approximately 70 hours.
- Beat Rate: 4Hz (28,800 VpH)
- Water Resistance: 30m (3bar)
- Strap: Belt-inspired embossed leather