As part of its just-announced relationship with Etihad Airways, the national airline of the UAE, Breitling has unveiled the Aviator 8 Etihad Limited Edition in black steel. This is a limited edition of 500 pieces and features stylized Arabic numerals on the dial, as is the norm with most Middle East editions.
The limited edition is based on the Navitimer 8 Automatic Day & Date model found in the Breitling’s current catalog. The Navitimer 8 collection honours Willy Breitling and his Huit Aviation Department. Willy Breitling established the Huit Aviation Department in 1938. The Department’s name (Huit is French for eight) was chosen to recall the eight days of power reserve offered by onboard clocks and other dashboard instruments. It was this team that developed the brand’s chronograph wristwatches that were used in the aviation sector.
The Etihad limited edition has a 41 mm black DLC-coated stainless steel case fitted with a solid screwed caseback and a case profile that is 11.19 mm thick. It uses a bi-directional rotating bezel with a small red pointer to indicate the 12 o’ clock position. Under a double anti-reflective sapphire glass sits an inky black dial. The day of the week is displayed (in Arabic script) at 12 o’ clock and the date is displayed at the 6 o’ clock position. Arabic numerals in striking gold color match the gold plated hands that indicate time.
The watch is powered by Breitling Caliber 45, a self-winding movement based on the ETA 2834-2. This movement has in the past been used in Breitling models like the Transocean Day & Date. The watch has a power reserve of 38 hours and is a COSC-certified chronometer. The Breitling Aviator 8 Etihad Limited Edition has been limited to just 500 pieces and will be released first in Abu Dhabi, then available worldwide in early 2020 for $4,995 USD.
A version of this article originally appeared on WatchTime Middle East.
Please advise where can I order or buy the watch in Abu Dhabi? Thank you
Living near the old deHavilland factory and museum I have been informed that Breitling have introduced a new chronograph the Aviator 8 Mosquito chronograph in recognition of the airplanes historic roll in WW2. Can you tell me if if the 500 being made can I purchase one or have they all been allocated at £6230.
Many thanks.
Wow. I now eagerly await Breitling’s iteration of an El Al Airlines model with Hebrew numbers.