Written by Menswear Style in New Collections on the 11th February 2020

Breitling the Swiss watchmaker - renowned as the leading manufacturer of aviation watches and, official supplier to the Royal Air Force Aerobatic Team, the Red Arrows - has announced the launch of the Breitling Avenger Royal Air Force Red Arrows Limited Edition, produced in a series of 220 pieces. The watch released in partnership with the Royal Air Force exclusively features the distinctive emblems of its renowned aerobatic display team.

Since 1965, the Red Arrows have earned a reputation as one of the world’s premier aerobatic display teams and represent the speed, agility and precision of the Royal Air Force. With their famous ‘Diamond Nine’ shape and combination of close formations and precision flying in Hawk fast-jets, Red Arrows pilots represent the very best in flying and operational excellence.

Partners Of The Skies 

Breitling and the Royal Air Force have a long history, dating as far back as the 1930s when Breitling on-board flight chronographs featured in the cockpits of legendary RAF bombers and fighter aircraft. Breitling’s collaboration with the Red Arrows has continued for over 25 years and today the pilots wear Breitling chronographs built to ensure accuracy and reliability under the most demanding physical conditions, reaching up to 7G on any given sortie. This limited edition is the latest in a line of coveted partnership releases between Breitling and the Royal Air Force, including the exclusive RAF100 Anniversary collection, and represents a unique opportunity for the public to have their own Breitling RAF Red Arrows Limited Edition timepiece. As the only luxury watch brand granted exclusive permission to feature the Red Arrows distinctive emblems, this is a collector’s piece with a generational legacy, limited to just 220 pieces.

Georges Kern, the CEO of Breitling, welcomes the opportunity to celebrate the partnership between Breitling and the Red Arrows with this special limited-edition Avenger. He says: “The Royal Air Force Aerobatic Team, the Red Arrows and Breitling make ideal partners. Flying in tight formations in jets, the team is the perfect modern expression of our long aviation tradition and our enduring partnership with the Royal Air Force.” Squadron Leader Martin Pert, Red 1 and Team Leader of the Royal Air Force Aerobatic Team, said: “Attention-to-detail and precision are at the heart of the Red Arrows and our everyday activity – whether that be in the air or on the ground. Alongside teamwork and engineering excellence, a focus on these qualities allows us to plan and prepare world-class displays. These performances rely on exact timing and aim to inspire people, whether they be in the UK or overseas.”

For The Modern Airborne Adventurer 

The Breitling Avenger RAF Red Arrows Limited Edition has a 45 mm stainless-steel case with a ratcheted unidirectional rotating bezel. Its striking blue dial features the famous Diamond Nine on the dial at 9 o’clock, as well as red accents reflecting the colours of the Royal Air Force. The red-tipped second-hand GMT ‘Red Arrow’, highlighting the second time zone adds another dash of colour. The hands and indexes are coated with Super-LumiNova, a luminescent material that makes them easily readable in all lighting conditions. The caseback is engraved with the Royal Air Force Red Arrows crest alongside the unique limited-edition number of each piece. The Avenger RAF Red Arrows Limited Edition is powered by a Breitling Caliber 32, a COSC-certified chronometer movement with a power reserve of approximately 42 hours. It is water-resistant to 30 bars (300 meters). The special limited-edition Avenger is presented on an elegant brushed stainless-steel bracelet with folding clasp. Thanks to its rugged bezel and its special grip-pattern on the crown, the Avenger can be easily operated wearing gloves and offers unrivalled safety and reliability to any airborne adventurer.

From £3950 at breitling.com

Limited-Edition to 220 pieces and featuring Breitling's Caliber 32 COSC-certified chronometer movement, we take a first look at the Breitling x Royal Air Force Red Arrows Avenger Watch.