People used to think Rolls Royce and Bentley were the same marque, which most probably stemmed from the fact that for the longest time, both brands had models that practically shared the same sheet metal. But the one thing that truly separated Bentley from Rolls Royce is the former’s indelible racing heritage. Indeed, the competitive spirit has always defined the Bentley universe.
The same can be said about Breitling and the independent watchmaker’s offshoot brand Breitling for Bentley. Yes, they are undeniably cut from the same cloth with both brands exhibiting the same in-your-face design language. But it’s the bling that truly sets the two apart.
There’s a reason why Bentley, and the Bentley Continental in particular, has been co-opted as the car brand and car of choice for famous sports personalities keen to show off their hefty pay checks. Indeed, in the bling-laden world of status symbols, few marques carry the same weight as the British car maker. So it was just a matter of time before the car maker and watchmaker eventually started gunning down the same road.
“Regular” Breitlings already carve their own path with robustly militarized, pseudo-utilitarian designs dialed all the way up to eleven. Breitling for Bentley takes that same (un)sensibility and adds a healthy dollop of bling to the party. Just take a gander at the offshoot brand’s latest for example, the Bentley B06 Midnight Carbon. Indeed, both the satin-brushed steel case and outstanding bezel featuring a knurled motif inspired by the Bentley radiator grille are so bigger-then-life they practically have their own weather system.
Adding to to the watchmaker’s growing list of black-out timepieces, this version of the popular Bentley B06 has all its massive watch bits coated with a black high-resistance carbon-based treatment; and yes, that includes its out-there Bentley radiator grille-style bezel. Indeed, the Bentley B06 was already distinguished by its highly-technical 30-second chronograph system. Couple that with its all-new, all-black trappings and you get a Bentley timepiece just salivating to pounce on unsuspecting prey.
But all is not dark in the world of Breitling for Bentley. The dial has been spared the all-black treatment and instead features a stunning black mother-of-pearl base for matte counters and red and white indications. Flip the watch over and the Bentley homage continues with a spectacular 360o-sculpted oscillating weight that looks amazingly like a Bentley steering wheel, as seen from the transparent caseback. The result is a not-completely-blacked-out Breitling timepiece that with that gorgeous black mother-of-pearl adds a little class to the proceedings. Perfect for Breitling for Bentley, then.
Additionally, the dial also displays another world-exclusive feature of Breitling for Bentley instruments: a “variable tachymeter”, based on the circular slide rule made popular on Breitling’s own Navitimers. Used in conjunction with the chronograph, this system was tweaked to measure an average speed whatever the time elapsed, the distance covered or the speed reached. Indeed, this device ensures considerably superior operation to that of conventional tachymeters which are confined to observations based on measurements under 60 seconds.
Beneath this stylishly growling exterior beats the Manufacture Breitling Calibre B06, a high performance, selfwinding chronograph caliber. This being a Breitling, the movement has (naturally) been chronometer-certified by the COSC (Swiss Official Chronometer Testing Institute). The ingenious “30-second chronograph” system, inspired by a Breitling patent dating from 1926, is distinguished by its central hand performing a full sweep of the dial in half a minute – thus, ensuring extremely accurate 1/8th of a second time readings.
Only 500 of the Bentley B06 Midnight Carbon watches will ever be made available worldwide with each being matched with either a rubber and crocodile leather strap or a full-rubber strap bearing the Bentley signature. Indeed, with the Bentley B06 Midnight Carbon, this beauty is also most certainly a beast.
