Breitling has capitalized on the success of their Aviator 8 model in the Middle East and developed three limited-edition versions of the watch, that will be exclusively available in the region.
The Breitling Aviator 8 Blacksteel Middle East Limited Edition, Breitling’s replacement for the Navitimer 8 across the historic pilot’s watch editions, has proved so popular in the Middle East that Breitling decided to expand the range and introduce a 43mm chronograph, a 41mm automatic, and a 41mm limited edition model.
”Our Aviator 8 collection is much loved within the region,” says Aed Adwan, Managing Director of Breitling Middle East, India, and Africa. “We, therefore, choose to develop three watches from this collection in a special series exclusively for the Middle East market.”
All three watches feature Arabic numerals, in a call back to last year’s collaboration with Etihad airways.
The chronograph is limited to 100 pieces and features a matte-finish military green dial and Super-LumiNova painted hands. Inside the case, the watch is driven by the Breitling Caliber 13 movement that will provide a 48-hour power reserve.
The Automatic 41 also has a military green dial but unlike the chronograph, the smaller case is made from DLC stainless steel and houses the Breitling Caliber 17 movement. A 38-hour power reserve means you’ll need to pick it up over the weekend if you want it to keep time. This model is limited too, but with a slightly larger run of 250 pieces.
The Aviator 8 41 Middle East limited edition is also limited to 250 pieces, packs the Caliber 17 movement and the DLC-case, but the styling deliberately nods to a golden age of watchmaking. Influences from Breitling’s pilot watches of the 1930s and 40s can be seen in the blue dial and pared-back case, much smaller and less heavily detailed than the Breitlings of, say, ten years ago.
The hardest part now will be tracking a model down before it invariably sells out, thanks to the Middle East’s robust watch-buying market.
