Breitling is no longer flying solo. At Geneva Watch Days, we sat down with the two most important people in Breitling’s story right now — outgoing architect Georges Kern, the man who rebuilt the brand from the ground up, and newly installed CEO Jean-Marc Pontroué — to ask the question the watch world has been quietly asking: what does life inside a House of Brands actually mean for Breitling?
Kern’s answer? Think of it like an aeroplane with five engines. You de-risk. You diversify. You grow. Gallet at the entry point of luxury, Universal Genève at the summit, Breitling holding the chronograph crown in the middle. Three brands, one roof, zero artificial optimisation. Housemates, not bedfellows — unless the synergies make sense.
Pontroué, four months into the CEO chair, is energised. He compares Breitling to a startup — agile, fast, directional — despite sitting inside one of the top ten watch brands on the planet. He’s got 300 boutiques to get to know, a manufacturing facility in Villeret to master, and a vision that runs in two directions at once: up into new complications, revivals, and Watches and Wonders-worthy high-end references, and down into a strengthened entry assortment between CHF 4,000 and CHF 7,000 — the sweet spot for the next generation of Breitling collectors.
And on the risk of Breitling being diluted by its new neighbours? Pontroué doesn’t blink. Gallet ends where Breitling begins. Universal Genève lives in an entirely different dimension. The cocktail is different — the spice is the same. Three icons. New calibres. New price points. Hospitality on the horizon. This is Breitling’s next chapter — and it’s only just getting started.
Breitling Navitimer B09 Chronograph 41 Tribute to Miles Davis pricing and availability
The stainless steel Breitling Navitimer B09 Chronograph 41 Tribute to Miles Davis is available now as a limited edition of 500 pieces. The Lifetime Club Members Set, which includes the stainless steel, 18k yellow gold, and 950 platinum models, is available now as a limited edition box set limited to 50 sets. Price: US$8,900 (steel/leatherstrap), US$9,600 (steel/Air Racer bracelet), TBC (precious metal configurations)
Brand
Breitling
Model
Navitimer B09 Chronograph 41 Tribute to Miles Davis
Case Dimensions
41mm (D) × 13mm (T) × 47.09mm (LTL)
Case Material
Stainless steel
18k yellow gold (Lifetime Club Member Set only)
950 platinum ((Lifetime Club Member Set only))
Water Resistance
30 metres
Crystal(s)
Cambered sapphire front, glareproofed both sides
Exhibition caseback
Dial
Black reverse-panda dial (stainless steel & 18k yellow gold)
Blue reverse-panda dial (950 platinum)
Strap
Brown calf-leather strap, folding clasp (stainless steel)
Black calf-leather strap, folding clasp (18k yellow gold)
Blue calf-leather strap, folding clasp (950 platinum)
Stainless steel Air Racer bracelet (stainless steel only)
Movement
Calibre B09, manufacture calibre, manually-wound, COSC-certified
Power reserve
70 hours
Functions
Hours, minutes, small seconds, chronograph, slide-rule bezel
Availability
Limited to 500 pieces
Lifetime Club Member Set limited to 50 pcs.
Price
US$8,900 (steel/leatherstrap)
US$9,600 (steel/Air Racer bracelet)
TBC (precious metal configurations)