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| Chronomat 44 GMT - Patrouille Suisse 50th Anniversary https://www.breitlingsource.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=52027 |
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| Author: | Roffensian [ Wed Jan 29, 2014 5:17 am ] |
| Post subject: | Chronomat 44 GMT - Patrouille Suisse 50th Anniversary |
News release headed for inboxes: Chronomat 44 GMT “Patrouille Suisse 50th Anniversary” Half a century of airborne feats Breitling celebrates the 50th anniversary of the Patrouille Suisse by dedicating to this exceptional team an exclusive version of the Chronomat, complete with personalized dial and engraved caseback. Issued in a 1,000-piece limited edition, this authentic aviation chronograph once again reflects the special ties between the Swiss brand and the world’s elite pilots. In 2014, Switzerland and the aviation world are celebrating a double milestone: the 100th anniversary of the Swiss Air Force and the 50th anniversary of the Patrouille Suisse. 1964 saw the official creation of an aerobatics team composed of professional air force pilots. Initially comprising four and later five British Hawker Hunter Mk 58 jet fighters, the Patrouille Suisse switched to six planes in 1978 and began giving its first demonstrations beyond national borders. Since 1995, it has established itself as one of the rare aerobatics teams on supersonic jets by flying six American F-5E Tiger II fighter aircraft recognizable by their red and white livery. An outstanding ambassador of Swiss precision and excellence, the Patrouille Suisse regularly performs at shows around Europe, providing stunning displays that delight spectators and have already earned it numerous distinctions. An authentic aviation chronograph As a privileged partner of aviation, Breitling enjoys a longstanding relationship with the Patrouille Suisse that has already led to the creation of several personalized models. The brand now joins the team’s 50th anniversary celebrations by launching a limited edition of its stellar Chronomat model in its dual-time version. An authentic wrist instrument for pilots, this mechanical chronograph featuring a sturdy satin-brushed steel case is distinguished by a black dial bearing the flight team logo at 9 o’clock, framed by a rotating bezel with inlaid rubber numerals. The second hour hand, tipped by the outline of a red F-5E Tiger II, serves to display the second timezone in 24-hour mode in a very simple manner via an extremely practical crown-adjustment system. The 24-hour scale on the bezel also enables a third timezone reading. The engraved caseback bears the official 50th anniversary logo, topped by the limited-edition number. Water-resistant to 200 meters (660 ft), the Chronomat 44 GMT “Patrouille Suisse 50th Anniversary” houses Manufacture Breitling Caliber B04, a selfwinding chronograph movement entirely developed and produced by Breitling and chronometer-certified by the COSC (Swiss Official Chronometer Testing Institute), the highest benchmark in terms of precision and reliability and the only one based on an international norm. Sturdiness and high performance expressed in a technical and masculine style: a fine tribute to 50 years of airborne feats. Model details are here - http://www.breitling.com/en/models/chro ... -editions/ |
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| Author: | Driver8 [ Wed Jan 29, 2014 6:30 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Chronomat 44 GMT - Patrouille Suisse 50th Anniversary |
Saw that myself. I have to say, I like it. I'm still more than a little dubious of the rubber inlaid bezel, but that aside I really like it. Nice flat dial without the guilloche square on it, and I also like the plane-shaped tip to the GMT hand. |
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| Author: | rplace [ Wed Jan 29, 2014 6:48 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Chronomat 44 GMT - Patrouille Suisse 50th Anniversary |
Agree on the GMT tip, nicely done. Like the little bit of color on the 9 o'clock dial. Overall a winner. |
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| Author: | wessa [ Wed Jan 29, 2014 6:55 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Chronomat 44 GMT - Patrouille Suisse 50th Anniversary |
Driver8 wrote: Saw that myself. ...Nice flat dial without the guilloche square on it... I think you will find the square is still there but maybe not as obvious as on previous models. Zoom in on the picture and it becomes a bit more pronounced. Not that it bothered me in the first place. The rubber inlaid bezel however is another story 
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| Author: | Roffensian [ Wed Jan 29, 2014 6:57 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Chronomat 44 GMT - Patrouille Suisse 50th Anniversary |
I think that Breitling would do well with different coloured chrono hands - there's a lot going on with this dial and the red tipped GMT hand stands out well, but the chrono gets lost. Rubber bezel, well, it's been said before.... |
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| Author: | Driver8 [ Wed Jan 29, 2014 8:12 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Chronomat 44 GMT - Patrouille Suisse 50th Anniversary |
wessa wrote: Driver8 wrote: Saw that myself. ...Nice flat dial without the guilloche square on it... I think you will find the square is still there but maybe not as obvious as on previous models. Zoom in on the picture and it becomes a bit more pronounced I disagree actually Wessa - I can see the way the hour markers essentially create the outline of the square, but I can't see any guilloche work on the dial at all. Maybe my computer's res is too low...... |
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| Author: | Willows [ Wed Jan 29, 2014 9:07 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Chronomat 44 GMT - Patrouille Suisse 50th Anniversary |
Driver8 wrote: wessa wrote: Driver8 wrote: Saw that myself. ...Nice flat dial without the guilloche square on it... I think you will find the square is still there but maybe not as obvious as on previous models. Zoom in on the picture and it becomes a bit more pronounced I disagree actually Wessa - I can see the way the hour markers essentially create the outline of the square, but I can't see any guilloche work on the dial at all. Maybe my computer's res is too low...... I was comparing the standard Chronomat 44 GMT with a Flying Fish and my Chronomat 01 LE a few weeks back. There is no guilloche texture on the dial of the standard Chronomat 44 GMT models. Not sure about this LE, but it looks the same. Far better looking dial in my opinion. Great looking watch. Love the F5-shaped GMT tip! The Patrouille Suisse are attending RIAT 2014 and unfortunately, it may be the last times we see them in the UK. The team is to be disbanded early 2016. |
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| Author: | RXPete [ Wed Jan 29, 2014 9:52 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Chronomat 44 GMT - Patrouille Suisse 50th Anniversary |
Driver8 wrote: wessa wrote: Driver8 wrote: Saw that myself. ...Nice flat dial without the guilloche square on it... I think you will find the square is still there but maybe not as obvious as on previous models. Zoom in on the picture and it becomes a bit more pronounced I disagree actually Wessa - I can see the way the hour markers essentially create the outline of the square, but I can't see any guilloche work on the dial at all. Maybe my computer's res is too low...... There's no guilloche, but a different shade of black making the square. At first I thought it was an illusion made by the hour markers, but if you look a the upper right corner of the square, it's visible. |
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| Author: | MattC [ Wed Jan 29, 2014 9:55 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Chronomat 44 GMT - Patrouille Suisse 50th Anniversary |
Looks like the lume is a different color? |
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| Author: | Kodiak [ Wed Jan 29, 2014 11:42 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Chronomat 44 GMT - Patrouille Suisse 50th Anniversary |
Nice looking model and a unique GMT hand for Breitling. I actually like the black rubber inserts in the bezel, gives it some contrast for improved readability. I wish they would scrap the polished hour markers altogether and lume them entirely, but overall a nice piece. |
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| Author: | kahless [ Wed Jan 29, 2014 11:53 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Chronomat 44 GMT - Patrouille Suisse 50th Anniversary |
Really like this one. Just too bad that the watch fund won't be near big enough to get one when they are available. |
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| Author: | Driver8 [ Wed Jan 29, 2014 2:28 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Chronomat 44 GMT - Patrouille Suisse 50th Anniversary |
MattC wrote: Looks like the lume is a different color? Yeah, the lume is the same as they used to the latest Frecce Tricolori : it's kind of a "vintage" style colour. I really liked it in person on the FT. |
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| Author: | MattC [ Wed Jan 29, 2014 3:35 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Chronomat 44 GMT - Patrouille Suisse 50th Anniversary |
I'm going to have to check these new Chronomats out at an AD to make a definite answer. |
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| Author: | mrcheatle [ Wed Jan 29, 2014 4:19 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Chronomat 44 GMT - Patrouille Suisse 50th Anniversary |
I'm not a fan of color on the bezels. My a watch look cheap IMO. I'd get many others before pulling the trigger on this. |
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| Author: | Chronomat01LE [ Wed Jan 29, 2014 6:27 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Chronomat 44 GMT - Patrouille Suisse 50th Anniversary |
Great looking piece! However I am not sure of the GMT hand, it's nice but not sure if it will make the piece look too "playful" and dated. Not a fan of rubber inserts on the bezel too even though they improve legibility, as I feel that the rubber inserts are a little "trend following" and Breitling will eventually discontinue using them eventually in future. I prefer the regular and LE series as I don't normally like special edition pieces. But overall I think it's still a winner and feels that it is the best looking among the special edition Chronomats currently. |
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