Wednesday, November 28, 2012

Perhaps they could have just stuck with one


While I am generally a big fan of Breitling watches, I don't personally like a lot of the Breitling for Bentley watches. These have a distinct design ethos apart from all of those other Breitling range. I like the concept, but many of the pieces have a design it does not speak to me. Having said that, I enjoy this new limited edition Breitling for Bentley Barnato 44 Night time H2o and watch with its good size and restrained look compared to its littermates.

The largest watches Breitling makes are likely in the Brietling for Bentley collection. If you are familiar with my work then you know I like large watches -- but many of those watches are just too big for me. You should be one of the world's biggest-wristed men to pull one particular off. This new watch is a more narrow 42mm wide. It will actually wear larger due to the very wide carry structures. This new 42mm size in the Barnato collection is a welcome addition in my opinion.

Breitling fans know that this is not very the first Breitling for Bentley Barnato piece. "Barnato" is a name from Bentley's racing history back in the late 1920s. This is just the newest watch in the product subfamily. One retro element of the watch is the switch design around the chronograph subdials. These tracks are meant to reminisce old instrument gauge designs. Overall, the watch switch on the Barnato 44 is pleasantly held-back without confusing textures and difficult- to-read hands or indicators. The watch hands and applied hour indicators are (properly) the easiest things to keep reading the black switch. The touch of red is a pleasant touch. I really do think that the effectiveness of this watch lies much in the surprisingly lovely switch design.

The 42mm wide case (waterproof to 100 meters) is in steel with a black coating. I believe that it is DLC, but Breitling does not make specific mention to DLC. They merely claim that the case has a "highly resistant carbon-based treatment. inch So... SOMETIMES REFERRED TO AS DLC? The case has that signature Breitling for Bentley look with the angular flanks and "clos du Paris" etched bezel. In this more subdued size I think it looks better. Attached to the watch is a black plastic band. Come to consider it I don't know why the watch has the terms "Carbon" and "Midnight" in the title. They are both often used to mean something is dark or black. Perhaps they could have just stuck with one term to help identify the piece.

Inside of the watch is a base ETA Breitling calibre 41B automatic chronograph movement. Like all Breitling movements this one is also COSC Chronometer certified. I honestly can't get over how 'into this piece' I am compared to other Breitling for Bentley models. I hope that this new "simplified" design ethos in the watch carries over to future Breitling for Bentley pieces. Breitling will produce just 1000 pieces in the limited edition Breitling for Bentley Barnato 44 Night time H2o and watch set.

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