Breitling’s longstanding partnership with Bentley completes 16 years this year and recently spawned a limited edition timepiece to celebrate the Crewe-based luxury carmaker’s 100th anniversary. The Swiss premium watchmaker also teamed up with another iconic British automobile manufacturer, Norton Motorcycles, last year, and two brands have extended its partnership into 2019. A new special edition called the Premier B01 Chronograph 42 Norton Edition was launched to mark the occasion. “Breitling’s new Premier Norton Edition incorporates DNA elements from both brands, offering wristwatch and motorcycle fans the opportunity to express their individuality, and perfectly embodies the nature of our brands,” said Breitling CEO Georges Kern. “I think that anyone who puts one on might suddenly imagine ‘Born to be Wild’ playing somewhere in the background.”
The Breitling Premier B01 Chronograph 42 Norton Edition features a black face and white subdials at 3 o’clock and 9 o ‘clock like the original. Special touches include the Norton logo engraved on a plate on the left-hand side of the 42mm steel case and on the crystal caseback. The special edition is available with both steel bracelet and brown leather strap, priced at £6,530 (about $8580 USD) and £7000 (roughly $9000 USD) respectively. Norton Motorcycles also launched special edition bikes to celebrate the occasion. Called the 77 Commando 961 Café Racer MKII Breitling Limited Edition, it features a vintage Breitling “B” engraved on the clutch box, Breitling-designed speedometer and tachometer dials, and a black-on-black vintage “B” stitched into the saddle.
