Flying high: Breitling Aerospace Red Arrows Special Edition

For its latest collaboration with the Red Arrows, the watchmaker revisits the Aerospace, one of its innovation aviation watches of the 1980s

Watches & Jewellery 12 Jul 2022

Precision, attention to detail and performance under pressure… these are all critical requirements when the Red Arrows put on their breathtaking aerobatic displays. And when timing is that crucial, they turn to Breitling to help perfectly choreograph their performances. 

It’s a relationship that dates back as far as the 1930s, when the watchmaker supplied the Royal Air Force with on-board chronographs to ensure precise calculations during the most challenging missions. The partnership with Red Arrows itself stretches back more than 30 years, with not only their pilots equipped with Breitling’s reliable watches, but a number of collaborative special editions have been produced. Today, it is the only watchmaker granted permission to use the emblems of the aerobatic team. 

The latest such model to be decked out in these distinctive motifs is the Breitling Aerospace Red Arrows Special Edition. It draws from one of the brand’s innovations of the 1980s, the Aerospace, which harnessed the then-revolutionary quartz technology to create a precision pilot’s watch packed with features. 

This new iteration is made from lightweight and durable titanium, and comes equipped with Breitling’s SuperQuartz™ calibre, powering functions including the 1/100th of a second chronograph, countdown timer, second time zone, alarm, audible time signal, calendar, and a backlit LCD digital display. Like the original, these are operated via a user-friendly control system on the crown, allowing for effortless operating even while wearing gloves. 

For Red Arrows enthusiasts, there are plenty of details that will appeal. The team’s iconic “Diamond Nine” formation takes pride of place in red against the blue backdrop of the dial, while the Eclat crest is engraved on the caseback. In a commemorative finishing touch, each watch comes with a special coin officially authorised by the Ministry of Defence, featuring the “Diamond Nine” alongside the Breitling heritage “B” on the reverse. 

breitling.com