Breitling Saves Lives

Among Breitling’s introductions at this year’s Baselworld is the Emergency II, the second in a series of watches that saves lives. The Emergency was first launched in 1995 and is the only watch with an antenna, sending messages through an international satellite alert system to search and rescue stations. So far, the watch has been instrumental in saving at least 20 lives, according to Breitling marketing director Lisa Roman.

The Emergency II is an updated version that sends messages on two frequencies (the second, new frequency offering more comprehensive data) rather than one, making it the world’s first wristwatch with a dual frequency locator beacon. (It’s actually called a Personal Locator Beacon, or PLB). The idea is an extension of the brand’s pilots watches, enabling the location of pilots or passengers following a plane crash. I will definitely be getting one of these watches to wear when I’m at my summer cottage, which is off the grid!

The three new Breitling for Bentley watches presented at Baselworld are the first to contain the brand’s in-house calibers, marking the occasion of the tenth anniversary of the Breitling/Bentley partnership. The Bentley B06 is a 30-second chronograph, while the B04 GMT and the B05 Unitime track dual time and world time zones respectively. These selfwinding chronograph calibers employ a column wheel, a vertical coupling clutch and a 70-hour power reserve.