Breitling Bentley Reviews

Breitling watches were the sponsors of the Bentley motor racing team when it won the Le Mans 24 Hour race in 2003. To commemorate this success Breitling has created the Bentley collection. In my opinion there are too many 'special edition' watches but I think the Bentley maybe one that will stand the test of time and become a collectors' item in years to come.

With the Bentley collection there are several models, each offering something different in terms of style and function.

The Breitling Bentley 6.75 is turning out to be the flag ship watch of this collection. It's not hard to see why when you take a closer look at the watch. First off, it's big. When you wear it people are going to notice it, even if they don't know what a Breitling watch looks like. The casing diameter is 48.7mm. The reason for the large size of the dial (in all the models of Bentley except the Flying B) is the incorporation of a circular slide rule, a feature that was first introduced with the Breitling Navitimer watch over 50 years ago and still being made today. By the way, the slide rule bezel with its inner gear system allows the watch to be more water resistant than the Navitimer watch; it's resistant to 100m.

The movement is an ETA 2892 with chronograph and big date complications. It's a 30 second chronograph, which makes it more accurate than a standard 60 second chronograph.

Other points of interest when looking at the wide, shallow dial are the applied wings logo; the 3 subdials; and the two date aperture windows - one rectangular window for the ones and a second window for the tens.

The watch has a distinctive Knurled bezel which is a trademark feature of Bentley cars. This little design detail really underpins the relationship between these two luxury product manufacturers.

A unique feature on this 6.75 model is the Bentley rim (spokes) featured on the case back. No other model of watch in the Bentley collection features this design on the case back.

The Breitling for Bentley Motors is slightly different in that the sub-dials are placed at the 3, 6 and 9 o'clock positions with the date aperture between the 4 and 5 hour marker. Unlike the 6.75 the date aperture consists of just one rectangular window. The watch casing is the same as is the bezel and movement. The back case doesn't feature the Bentley spokes but you do get the Bentley logo.

The Bentley Mulliner Tourbillon really is something special. Each watch is customized by the buyer. They can change the casing metal; platinum, yellow, white or rose gold as well as the dial color. Another beautiful feature is the case back; it's glass with a precious wood perimeter - the future owner has a choice of 6 woods. The mechanism is a hand wound ETA 2892-A2 movement with Chronograph, Moon Phase and Tourbillon complications.

The Bentley Flying B is a radical departure from the usual style of any Breitling watch in that the casing is rectangular in shape. Its diameter is 57.3mm x 38.5mm. Another radical departure from form is the incorporation of a jumping hour mechanism in which the hour hand is replaced by a disc aperture at 12 o'clock. The minute hand is more conventional, a single arm placed in the dial's centre. Seconds are displayed in an off-centre subdial at the 6 o'clock position.

All of the Breitling watches in the Bentley collection are beautiful. Choosing one, of course, is a matter of personal taste. If I was going to be the owner of one these watches I would choose the Bentley 6.75 with bronze dial and brown leather strap - exquisite.

Follow the links for Breitling watches and reviews on swiss wrist watches like Oris, Patek Philippe and Panerai watches.