Horological Meandering

Breitling 2019 Launch....a pictorial report

Oct 14, 2019,06:48 AM

Ever since CVC and Georges Kern took over 18 months ago, Breitling has made a number of pleasing changes, including the launch of a Premier line and several highly successful re-editions such as the Navitimer 806 in steel.

Last week, I was pleasantly surprised to be invited to Breitling's product launch in Dubai. Why Dubai? Some may ask - to which the organizers jokingly replied that because Breitling is so hot these days, they needed to pick a location fitting the occasion

Over a hundred journalists, retailers and collectors were invited to attend the event, which was superbly organized.

Here is Georges Kern doing his favorite thing - delivering a speech and kicking off the event...

Guests were checked into the posh One and Only Royal Mirage Hotel....

The official product launch (called The Summit) took place at a renovated warehouse. Among the highlights was the introduction of a new spokesperson - a 19-year-old drone-racing world champion

Here are some of the novelties, including the Avenger, Aviator and a platinum re-edition of the Navitimer (limited to 50 pieces)

Later in the day, we were given a guided tour to the Breitling boutique at Dubai Mall (the world's largest shopping mall)

Some vintage timepieces were on display among the current models (note the newly launched Pam Am edition of the Navitimer in the fourth picture..

We were then chauffeured into the dessert for an exotic dinner

Awaiting us the next day was a surprise day tour - which turns out to be a camel ride, again in the dessert

It was great fun.

Dinner was held at the chic Armani restaurant

The itinerary for the next day was supposed to be a ride in a sea plane for an aerial view of Dubai. Unfortunately it was cancelled due to low visibility and an impending sand storm. So we went on a boat and enjoyed a leisurely lunch on an outlying island instead...