Breitling Revisits Its History With The Launch Of Three New Tourbillon Chronographs

By Adrienne Faurote November 17, 2022

For Breitling’s latest launch within its Premier collection, the brand looks back to its founding history, ultimately embodying each of the founders: the Premier B21 Chronograph Tourbillon 42 Leon, Gaston, and Willy Breitling.

Photo Credit: Courtesy of Breitling

A collection founded almost 80 years ago in 1942 by Willy Breitling, the Premier line was designed as Breitling’s antidote to austerity, proving that the chronographs could maintain high-precious while also being extremely elegant. Today, the Swiss luxury watchmaker reignites the founding spirit through the launch of the Premier B21 Chronograph Tourbillon 42. “The Premier B21 Chronograph Tourbillon 42 is the perfect expression of Breitling’s design and expertise,” notes CEO Georges Kern. “In the tourbillon, you see the mechanism living at every second. It is the beating heart of the watch.”

Photo Credit: Courtesy of Breitling

As the focal point of the timepieces sitting at 12 o’clock, the tourbillon houses the balance wheel, balance spring, and escapement in a rotating cage, setting the entire assembly in perpetual motion. To perfect the movement, Breitling tapped specialty movement maker, Manufacture La Joux-Perret, to develop the B21 movement that combines a tourbillon with a chronograph, catapulting this new trio into the modern era of Breitling.

Photo Credit: Courtesy of Breitling

Each variation is distinctive of its inspiration: the Léon features a solid 18k red gold case with a silver dial and brown, semi-shiny alligator strap embodying Léon as the craftsman, the Gaston pairs a solid 18k white gold case with an anthracite dial and black alligator strap revealing Gaston’s reputation as the innovator, and finally, the Willy, meanwhile, is a vision in solid platinum with an admiral-blue dial fitted with a black alligator strap, capturing Willy’s impeccable taste.