Commemorating the longest-ever partnership between an automotive manufacturer and a watch brand
An exceptional member of the elegant and luxurious Premier collection
A new timepiece from the world’s most successful partnership between a watch company and a car manufacturer, the new Breitling Premier Bentley Centenary Limited Edition, was introduced last night at the Geneva Motor Show.
The new wristwatch commemorates the extraordinary collaboration enjoyed by Bentley Motors and Breitling since 2003. Both brands share a commitment to the highest quality, exquisite craftsmanship, outstanding performance and unrivalled luxury.
Launched to celebrate Bentley’s 100 years of luxury motoring excellence, the Centenary Limited Edition is the latest model to grace Breitling’s refined Premier collection.
Adrian Hallmark, Chairman and Chief Executive of Bentley Motors, commented: “The highly successful and long-standing collaboration between Bentley and Breitling is an impressive example of how brands with shared values work together in an authentic way to enhance the performance of both.”
“With our extraordinary motoring heritage of 100 years to build on, we are now firmly focused on a future characterised by our passion for innovation. Both Bentley and Breitling are defined by their unwavering technological progress, world-leading craftsmanship and a modern and pioneering spirit.”
“The new Premier Centenary Limited Edition is a testament to our globally successful partnership of many years and to our commitment to the future.”
Breitling CEO Georges Kern said the new watch reflected the values his brand shares with the legendary British automaker: “We’re proud of our partnership with Bentley. Both companies are known for quality, performance, and design excellence, and both are built on powerful legacies. The Premier Bentley Centenary Limited Edition is a celebration of Bentley’s history, its luxury, and its incredible racing pedigree as well as its important, intimate connection to Breitling.”
Partners in Luxury and Performance
Breitling’s partnership with Bentley Motors can be traced back to 2002, when the iconic automobile brand was designing its legendary Continental GT, which defined a new type of Grand Tourer on the global stage.
Bentley commissioned Breitling to create an onboard clock that would reflect the unparalleled luxury, peerless quality, and extraordinary performance of the new GT, which debuted in Paris in 2003. Throughout the next decade, both brands worked together to create exquisite timepieces and special edition cars that cemented the strength of the relationship. In 2018, Breitling introduced the Premier B01 Chronograph 42 Bentley British Racing Green, a striking wristwatch with a distinctive British racing green dial.
Bentley celebrated its 100th anniversary at this year’s Geneva Motor Show with the introduction of the Centenary Limited Edition – Continental GT Number 9 Edition by Mulliner.
Breitling Celebrates a Motoring Legacy
While Bentley is renowned for its luxurious road cars, the brand also has an impressive history on the track. Between 1924 and 1930, the famous “Bentley Boys” won the 24 Hours of Le Mans race five times. Sir Tim Birkin was one of the legendary Bentley Boys and it was in the No. 9 – his own car – that he raced and broke records. It was his vision that brought a supercharger to a Bentley. While the official name of the cars was ‘4 ½ Litre Supercharged’, they soon became widely known and admired as the ‘Blower’ Bentleys. Perhaps the greatest of all the Blower’s races was the 1930 Le Mans where Sir Tim drove the second of the five Birkin team cars, registration UU 5872 and carrying race number 9. In celebration of the car and its driver, the Bentley Continental GT Number 9 Edition by Mulliner features a wood insert from the seat of his iconic 1930 No. 9 Le Mans race car. Set in resin and situated in the middle of the centre dial of the rotating display, it adds a tantalising piece of history to each Limited Edition. The wooden dials that contribute to the allure of the Premier Bentley Centenary Limited Edition watches are an important link to the wood inserts in the new Continental GT Number 9 and, by extension, to the days that the original Bentley Boys and Girls attracted so much attention both on and off the track.
The success of the 1920s was reinvigorated in 2003 when Bentley returned to Le Mans and took the first and second place finishes. Breitling was Team Bentley’s proud main sponsor of that year’s famous endurance race.
Breitling Premier Centenary Watch Specifications
Produced in 18k red gold and stainless steel versions, the new Premier Centenary Limited Edition offers outstanding design features. The elegant and unique wooden brown burl elm dial with black subdials (a chronograph minute counter at 3 o’clock and a small seconds subdial at 9 o’clock) is particularly eye-catching.
The contrasting subdials indicate that the watches are powered by Breitling’s flagship Manufacture Caliber 01. The in-house mechanical movement delivers an impressive power reserve of approximately 70-hours.
The movement is visible through a unique transparent caseback featuring a Bentley logo. The 18k red gold version is engraved with a “ONE OF 200” inscription while the steel version is inscribed “ONE OF 1000”, confirmation of the edition sizes for the watches.
The dial features a white tachymeter scale on a black inner bezel around the dial, with a red tachymeter inscription.
The Bentley Centenary Limited Edition in 18k red gold is presented on a brown leather strap whose pattern and stitching were inspired by the seats in a Bentley. The stainless steel version will also be available on the brown Bentley-inspired leather strap or on a stainless-steel bracelet.
On the left side of the 42 mm steel case is a plate with an engraved “Bentley” inscription, which owes its inspiration to the dashboard of the historic supercharged 1929 “Blower” Bentley.
The Breitling Premier Bentley Centenary Limited Edition is a COSC-certified chronometer, an independent confirmation of its precision.
Premier Bentley Centenary Limited Edition pricing (including VAT)
Stainless-steel case with stainless-steel bracelet GBP 8,450
Stainless-steel case with Bentley-inspired leather strap & folding buckle GBP 8,150
Stainless-steel case with Bentley-inspired leather strap & pin buckle GBP 7,950
18k red gold case with Bentley-inspired leather strap & 18k red gold pin buckle GBP 22,500
