Breitling takes its partnership with Aston Martin to a new level, with two customisable Super Chronomat models, but only for Aston Martin Valhalla owners.
Breitling and Aston Martin have a lot in common when it comes to precision engineering, performance and design (putting aside the current Formula 1 team’s ups and downs, that is), and their latest collaboration takes that connection a step further by giving Valhalla owners the chance to create a Super Chronomat that reflects their own car in either a “his” or “hers”, or both!
We have seen plenty of watch and automotive collaborations over the years, with brands often taking an existing model and adding a few details to connect it to a particular car or racing team. There is nothing wrong with that, but that only touches the surface. This time, Breitling is doing something a little different, opening up the design process to Valhalla owners and allowing them to personalise two Super Chronomat models through a dedicated configurator.
With a limited production of 999 cars, the Aston Martin Valhalla is the British brand’s first mid-engine plug-in hybrid supercar, with a 0-100km/h sprint in just 2.5 seconds, a top speed of 350 km/h all coming from its 4.0-litre Twin Turbo V8, combined with three electric motors that produce 794 kW (1,064 bhp / 1,079 PS) and 1,100 Nm of torque. It is essentially an F1 car for the road, with much of its technology coming from the sport itself.
As many car enthusiasts are also watch enthusiasts and collectors, this association and initiative allows owners to connect their two worlds in a more meaningful way than just a limited edition watch that comes with the car.
Two Super Chronomat Models To Choose From
There are two watches available through the program, and both offer a slightly different take on the Super Chronomat, depending on whether you prefer a larger, more complicated watch or something a little more compact, depending on your wrist size and tastes. Breitling callS these a “His” and “Hers” pair which, let’s face it, if you owned an Aston Martin Valhalla, then why not take both?
The first is the Super Chronomat B19 44 Perpetual Calendar Chronograph (a watch I reviewed when it was released for Breitling’s 140th Anniversary in 18k rose gold), which, for this model, comes in a 44mm titanium case with Breitling’s familiar Rouleaux bracelet. The carbon-fibre dial ties the automotive connection in nicely and something we’ve seen on the Navitimer Chrono x Aston Martin edition, and the layout stays the same as the previous Super Chronomat perpetual calendar model, albeit with no dial skeletonisation this time around.
Flipping the watch over, you will see Breitling’s B19 calibre, which combines an automatic chronograph with a perpetual calendar. Featuring the day, date, month, leap year and moon phases, the latter of which won’t require a calendar correction until 2100. There is also a 96-hour power / 5-day reserve, which is rather large considering the automatic movement and chronograph, but it is a decent-sized watch, so there is plenty of space for the barrel and mainspring.
The second option is the Super Chronomat Automatic 38, which is a much more compact version for smaller wrists in a 38mm stainless-steel case, the same Rouleaux bracelet design and the addition of a diamond-set bezel. So it is more geared to the ladies or men who want a little bling on their wrists. It also uses the textured carbon-fibre dial, with a titanium crown to keep the automotive-inspired materials in the mix.
Unlike its larger big brother, this model simplifies the dial, displaying the hours, minutes, seconds and date, with the latter positioned at six o’clock, keeping the balance and symmetry in check. Inside is the Breitling Calibre B17 automatic with a 38-hour power reserve. It won’t break world records, but it will be perfectly suitable for day-to-day wear, which the Breitling Super Chronomat 38 is designed to be.
A Custom Watch To Suit Your Style
“Valhalla is a statement of what Aston Martin can do. Now we are bringing that same experience to the wrist. For the first time, we have opened up the Super Chronomat design process exclusively to Valhalla owners. This individual timepiece makes the connection to their exceptional vehicle even more personal.”
Georges Kern, CEO, House of Brands
Through the bespoke programme, owners can customise each of the watches to suit their tastes, or if it were me, matching my car which is also customisable. In the larger 44mm Super Chronomat Perpetual Calendar, the colour of the rehaut and seconds hand, the counter hand colour can be made bespoke, and should you feel like it, you can add a personal engraving to the rotor.
Owners will have the chance to customise the watch with the following combinations: Four color combinations to personalize the rehaut and the hands of the watch with a choice of Aston Martin Racing Green, Trophy Silver, Vivid Gold and Lime Green. In addition, there are six color combinations to personalize the counter hands: Aston Martin Racing Green, Trophy Silver, Lime Green, Valkyrie Gold, Vivid Orange and Rosso Corsa.
In the smaller 38mm model, its customisation options include the colour of the rehaut and hands, along with an engraving on the caseback. So there is less you can actually make your own on this piece, but it would make for a good his and hers along with the Perpetual Calendar model. Essentially, the choice of colours and personal engravings gives owners a way to make the watch their own, particularly if they want to draw a connection between the colours or details of their car and add it to what is on their wrist.
Marek Reichman, Aston Martin’s Executive Vice President and Chief Creative Officer, said “the programme reflects the innovation, precision and individuality behind the Valhalla, while giving customers the opportunity to commission a watch inspired by their own vehicle.”
If like me, you want to see what you can customise, then Breitling has a watch configurator online, check it out here!
Initial Thoughts
As I previously said, cars and watches do go hand in hand. There are a lot of synergies that you can draw between the two worlds, which, Breitling has obviously done when the brand originally announced the partnership wth Aston Martin.
When Breitling announced the first collaboration watch as a Navitimer, there were some in the watch world that were not sure if that model was the right model to launch with, me included in that group. Having seen the watch in person and after some time wearing it around, it made a little more sense. This collaboration however, seems to fit the bill nicely for both Aston Martin and Breitling.
As the bespoke Super Chronomat program is available exclusively to Aston Martin Valhalla owners, it means that these watches will inveitably end up in a rare club of just 999 people, and that is if all of them take up the watch offer. Whether you prefer the larger 44mm Titanium Perpetual Calendar Chronograph or the more compact 38mm automatic, or you can get both as a his and her’s set, the principle is still the same: to create a watch that has a connection to the car, while still retaining the design and character of a Breitling Super Chronomat. And, it isn’t a bad initiative at all.
References & Specifications
SUPER CHRONOMAT B19 44 PERPETUAL CALENDAR
| Feature | Specifications |
|---|---|
| Dimensions | 44mm x 53.5mm lug-to-lug x 14.45mm thick |
| Case Material | Titanium, brushed & polished |
| Bezel | Titanium black ceramic insert, unidirectional ratcheted, indexes and Super-LumiNova® coated rider tab numerals |
| Dial | Carbon dial, with four colour combinations to personalise the rehaut and the hands, six colour combinations to personalise the counter hands. |
| Crystal | Domed sapphire crystal with anti-reflective treatment |
| Movement | Breitling Calibre 19 beating at 4Hz / 28,800 VpH |
| Power Reserve | 96 hours / 5 days |
| Functions | Hours, minutes, small seconds, chronograph seconds, 30-minute counter, day, date, month, moonphase & leap years |
| Water Resistance | 200 metres (20 bar) |
| Strap/Bracelet | Titanium-steel Rouleaux bracelet with butterfly clasp or black Rouleaux-inspired rubber strap with folding clasp |
| Price | CHF 59,000 |
SUPER CHRONOMAT AUTOMATIC 38
| Feature | Specifications |
|---|---|
| Dimensions | 38mm x 11.88mm thick |
| Case Material | Stainless Steel |
| Bezel | Stainless Steel with lab-grown diamonds, unidirectional with ceramic rider tabs |
| Dial | Carbon dial, with four colour combinations to personalise the rehaut and the hands |
| Crystal | Domed sapphire crystal with anti-reflective treatment |
| Movement | Breitling Calibre 17 beating at 4Hz / 28,800 VpH |
| Power Reserve | 38 hours |
| Functions | Hours, minutes, seconds, date |
| Water Resistance | 100 metres (10 bar) |
| Strap/Bracelet | Steel Rouleaux bracelet with butterfly clasp or black Rouleaux-inspired rubber strap with folding clasp |
| Price | CHF 25,000 |