In its Prime

As Breitling turns 140 this year, we speak to CEO Georges Kern on the brand’s legacy, and how it continues to cater to watch enthusiasts and collectors

- Preetika Mathew

Even by April this year, when I meet with Breitling CEO Georges Kern in Delhi, it feels like the celebrations to commemorate the 140th year of the brand have already reached a fever pitch. Although Kern assures me that that’s not the case—there is a pop-up museum, a book launch, jubilee models, and a plethora of activities planned throughout the year—a lot has happened at the brand within the first four months of 2024. The most talked-about among them was Breitling’s announcement that it had partnered with Swiss explorer Bertrand Piccard’s Climate Impulse project, the first nonstop around-the-world, zero-emission flight in a green hydrogen-powered airplane. Shortly before that, Breitling had unveiled the Aerospace B70 Orbiter, a watch that marked 25 years of the first nonstop balloon flight around the world (also piloted by Piccard)—it actually contained a segment of the original Breitling Orbiter 3 balloon visible through the transparent caseback. Prior to that, the brand had launched the limited-edition Chronomat 36 Victoria Beckham collection with the British designer.

Kern’s visit was also part of Breitling ‘140 Years of Firsts’ celebrations, where he met with the brand’s retail partners, customers, and the press in the country, to speak to them about the idea of the brand, its evolution in the recent past, and where it is headed to in the coming years. WatchTime India caught up with him for a one-on-one conversation...

WatchTime India: This year Breitling celebrates its 140th anniversary, and currently, there is a lot of talk around the Climate Impulse project. What made Breitling associate with it?