Another Swiss watchmaker has jumped into the smartwatch market. Breitling, the company famed for its chronographs, today announced the Breitling B55 Connected. Much like Neptune proposes with the Neptune Duo, Breitling makes the smartphone an accessory to the smartwatch rather than the more traditional reverse approach. It bills the watch as “the absolute master” with the smartphone designed to “improve its user friendliness.”
In creating its first connected chronograph, Breitling has applied a new philosophy placing the smartphone in the service of the watch so as to enhance its functionality and conviviality. The instrument of the future.
In 2014, Breitling presented Caliber B50, an electronic multifunction chronograph movement with analog and digital displays. This exclusive ‘motor’ served to offer pilots a vast range of innovative functions, along with unprecedented ease of use and read-off. But it was also intended to pave the way for other avant-garde developments – a mission now accomplished with the launch of the B55 Connected, a new-generation connected chronograph.
Based on 2014’s Caliber B50, the B55 Connected adds Bluetooth connectivity to the smartphone and the Breitling app to enable a number of remote control features such as setting the time, timezones, alarms, enabling night mode and more. Conversely, data such as flight times can be sent to the smartphone to be reviewed on a more convenient larger display.
The Breitling B55 Connected features a number of electronic functions including an electronic tachometer, a countdown/countup system enabling a sequence of countdown and “long duration” timing (Mission Elapsed Time) operations. A “chrono flight” function helps record flight times by memorizing the take-off time, landing time and date. Selection of these is done by rotating the crown with activation and deactivation being done of two pushpieces.
Full specifications have not been announced but the Breitling B55 Connected comes with a titanium case with black carbon-based coating. The dial sports two LCD displays with a high-intensity backlighting system that is activated by pressing the crown or tilting the wrist at a more than 35° angle.
Pricing and availability details were not announced but will likely be revealed at Baselworld 2015 later this month. If it falls in the same range as the Breitling B50, look for the price to fall in the US$8,000 (about CA$10,000) range.
Source : Breitling