The new Formula One season is approaching and while the buzz at the moment is the revealing of each team’s new livery, on a horological front there has been some change too. Aston Martin Aramco is stepping into the season with a new official watch partnership (as well as Aston Martin in general, not just the F1 team) with Breitling. For the past five years that role has been taken by Girard-Perregaux with whom they released a fleet of special editions. To celebrate the start of the new partnership, Breitling are launching the Navitimer B01 Chronograph 43 Aston Martin Aramco Formula One™ Team.
As to why Breitling and Aston Martin is a partnership that makes sense, the two brands actually share a serendipitous connection. In the 1965 film Thunderball, a certain Sean Connery playing the role of James Bond is kitted out by Q with the first tech-filled wristwatch of the franchise, which happens to be a Breitling Top Time. His car in that film, the iconic Aston Martin DB5. Frankly if that’s not enough of a cultural reason to build a partnership, I don’t know what is.
There’s also a historic connection between Breitling and F1 more generally. In the 1960s, Graham Hill and Jim Clark (most famous for driving for Lotus) both wore Breitling Navitimers at the track, converting the aviation tools it provides such as speed calculation and fuel consumption into trackside essentials. It was during this same period, 1959 specifically, that Aston Martin made their F1 debut.
As such, when it comes to the first wristwatch produced by the partnership, it only makes sense for it to be a Navitimer, the model most closely associated with the sport. That is exactly what they have done with the Navitimer B01 Chronograph 43 Aston Martin Aramco Formula One™ Team. It’s a large watch at 43mm, which is necessary in order to display the large volume of information on the display clearly. Fortunately, the size is offset somewhat by the fact that the case is made from lightweight titanium for the first time in the Navitimer’s history.
Similarly, the dial is dedicated to high performance too, produced in carbon-fibre, another lightweight, durable material. It has also been treated so that some of its flecks appear green, the signature colour of Aston Martin, paired with a yellow chronograph seconds hand for the same reason. Viewed from a distance though, the overall appearance is that of a reverse panda, featuring white subdials and a black dial.
Beneath the dial is the Breitling Manufacture Caliber B01, a COSC chronometer chronograph movement with 70-hour power reserve. It’s visible through the exhibition caseback where you can see its new Aston Martin Formula One Team branded rotor. You can also see around the edge of the caseback an inscription marking it as one of 1959, in tribute to the year Aston Martin had their start in F1.
The Navitimer B01 Chronograph 43 Aston Martin Aramco Formula One™ Team is priced at £8,900. It comes on an embossed leather strap with a safety harness texture on the top and a lining in the colours of Aston Martin. I actually think this is a really solid first watch for the partnership – pushing Breitling’s boundaries in terms of materials on display. It makes me excited for two things: 1. The reveal of the new Aston Martin livery later this week with Breiting logos on the car. 2. A potential Aston Martin themed Top Time in future.
Price and Specs:
More details at Breitling.
