Last year, Swiss watchmaker Breitling released the AVI Ref. 765. This was a recreation of the 1953 “Co-Pilot” Ref. 765, one of the most iconic aviation watches of all time. With the success of the new AVI Ref. 765, Breitling has just announced the release of yet another aviation watch collection, the Super AVI.
The concept behind the new Super AVI is straightforward: take the AVI Ref. 765, then apply coloring and other visual elements as an homage to a particular aircraft. The same case is present on all variants, as well as the same dial elements, although there are differences in color. All variants also use the Breitling Manufacture Caliber B04 movement, which has a heartbeat of 4Hz and an impressive 70-hour power reserve.
All four aircraft are popular World War II planes, which enthusiasts are sure to love. Now, let’s talk for a minute about what the Super AVI watches have in common, before we dig into their differences.
One Distinct Dial
The Breitling Super AVI has a 46mm case, with a crown and two pushers to operate the chronograph functions. It sports a bi-directional, rotating bezel with hour markings, so it can function as a GMT watch. There’s an outer index with fine hashes and larger squares at the five-minute positions. Inside of that, you’ll see big, bold Arabic numerals, although they’re absent at the 3, 6, and 9 o’clock positions. Those spots are blocked by the three chronometer subdials, which cover much of the bottom half of the dial.
The crystal is flat across the top, although it’s cambered slightly around the edges. It’s a high-quality sapphire, with glare-proofing on both sides for better visibility. The case back is also sapphire, so you can see the movement in action. But the real attraction is the painted airplane, which represents the aircraft that corresponds to your watch.
Four Distinct Homages
So, what sets the different Super AVI variants apart? Basically, each variant is meant to represent a particular aircraft. Here are the differences:
- The Super AVI P-51 Mustang represents perhaps the best fighter of the mid war period, flown by several Allied countries. There are actually two different P-51 variants. The first has a red gold case, with a charcoal dial and a black leather strap. The other has a stainless steel case, with a brown leather strap.
- The Super AVI Vought F4U Corsair is a tribute to America’s late war carrier-based fighter, with a blue dial and white markings that beautifully represent the plane’s paint scheme. It sports a stainless steel case and a black leather strap.
- The Super AVI Curtiss Warhawk pays respect to the rugged Warhawk, an early war fighter and ground attack aircraft that saw service in the US Army Air Force as late as 1944. It has a stainless steel case, along with an olive dial and white markings.
- The Super AVI Mosquito is perhaps the boldest variant, which is fitting, since it represents a British plane that started its life known as “Freeman’s Folly,” before earning the moniker “Wooden Wonder.” It has a black dial and bezel, with contrasting white subdials and a white chronograph counter. The case itself is stainless steel.
For more information visit the official Breitling website here.
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