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Bvlgari & MB&F Reimagine the Iconic Serpenti

Collaborations in watchmaking often bring together the creativity of a brand and its chosen partner, whether they be artists, athletes, or designers. However, it’s far rarer to see two well-known watchmaking powerhouses join forces. The partnership between Bvlgari and MB&F is a fascinating case, as both brands serve as creative forces in the industry with anything they put their hands on. 

Their latest collaboration, the Bvlgari x MB&F Serpenti, follows their 2021 partnership, which resulted in the MB&F x Bvlgari LM FlyingT Allegra launched at Dubai Watch Week. This time, the two brands reinterpret Bvlgari’s iconic Serpenti through the mechanical artistry of MB&F’s horological machines, merging biomorphic design with high-complication watchmaking in a way that only they can.

Introducing Breitling Introduces the New Top Time B21 Classic Cars Chronograph Tourbillon

Featuring a tourbillon for the first time, these three new editions draw inspiration from vintage muscle cars

Breitling continues its strategy of expanding the collection and utilizing its own in-house manufacturer calibers.which  Mr. George Kern discussed this in detail in our interview. the future plans of the company in our interview with him. Now, Breitling has just announced the return of its Top Time Chronograph watch. Originally launched in the ’60s, the Top Time was a sports watch aimed at a more active audience with its bold lines and playful “Zorro” dial, characterized by its asymmetrical subdials. The collection was reintroduced in 2021. Now, the company has added a tourbillon to the Top Time Classic Cars Collection. The new series celebrates the Ford Mustang, Chevrolet Corvette, and Shelby Cobra. 

Interestingly, the watches in the new Breitling Top Time B21 Classic Cars Chronograph Tourbillon collection exhibit variations in case dimensions. While both the Top Time B21 Shelby Cobra and Top Time B21 Chevrolet Corvette feature 44mm wide cases crafted from sleek black ceramic, the Breitling Top Time B21 Ford Mustang stands out with its warm bronze case, slightly smaller at 43mm wide. Beyond the difference in materials, the two case designs share similarities. Both styles showcase a more substantial and commanding version of the familiar mid-century sporty case silhouette of the Top Time, with attached lugs that gently taper, narrow smooth bezels, and elegantly brushed case sides.

Breitling equips all three watches with sapphire display casebacks, providing an unobstructed view of the intricate movements within. Despite being more luxurious iterations of the base Top Time platform, Breitling upholds the collection’s sporty essence, and all three models boast a robust 100 meters of water resistance.

The Breitling Top Time B21 Classic Cars Chronograph Tourbillon collection pays homage to iconic cars through its dial designs. However, these models take a more understated approach, featuring subdued colors and avoiding explicit automotive branding in visuals. All three watches share a uniform dial layout, including a black outer tachymeter ring, the recognizable "squircle"-shaped 60-minute chronograph subdial at 6 o’clock, and a corresponding rounded-square cutout for the tourbillon escapement with its elegantly narrow skeleton bridge at 12 o’clock. While adhering to this common structure, each model introduces unique stylistic elements. The Breitling Top Time B21 Ford Mustang, surrounded by a bronze case and boasts a vertically brushed Highland Green dial. This choice creates a deep, classically luxurious color scheme in visuals, blending the tourbillon seamlessly with the rest of the dial through matching and complementary tones. In contrast, the Breitling Top Time B21 Shelby Cobra takes on a more serious and subdued aesthetic, featuring a desaturated navy blue brushed dial and a blacked-out tourbillon bridge. However, the standout in the collection is the Breitling Top Time B21 Chevrolet Corvette. Instead of mimicking an automotive paint-inspired dial hue like its counterparts, this model shifts its focus to the car’s dashboard. The dial surface is meticulously crafted from a single piece of walnut burl wood, showcasing a rich interplay of highlights and shadows. Wood dials are a rarity in the contemporary luxury watch landscape, but the results are dynamic, nuanced, and genuinely captivating. while the Super-LumiNova luminescent hour and minute hands.

All The three models utilize the Caliber B21 automatic tourbillon chronograph movement. First introduced in 2022’s Breitling Premier B21 Chronograph Tourbillon, Breitling developed the B21 in partnership with movement specialist La Joux-Perret. The end result is an impressively solid performer, with a 55 hour power reserve at a 28,800 VpH beat rate, as well as COSC certified chronometer accuracy. On the finishing side, the Caliber B21 is crisp and modern, the engraved skeleton rotor is decorated by a vertical brushing. The tourbillon is the visual centerpiece here, thanks to its use of contrasting metals and the arcing, narrow lower tourbillon bridge. 

Ford Mustang and Chevrolet Corvette editions feature a brown calfskin leather strap with titanium folding buckle, while Shelby Cobra features a blue calfskin leather strap with titanium folding buckle.

The Breitling Top Time B21 Classic Cars Chronograph Tourbillon watches come in the same price for each, 45,000 EURO which is equivalent to 179,550 AED.

 For more information, please visit Breitling official website.

Technical specifications: Breitling Top Time B21 Classic Cars Chronograph Tourbillon
  1. Reference: NB21251A1L1X1 “Ford Mustang”  - SB21251A1C1X1 “Shelby Cobra”   -   SB21252A1Q1X1 “Chevrolet Corvette”
 
  1. Case: Shelby Cobra and Chevrolet Corvette in 44mm black ceramic cases, Ford Mustang 43 mm bronze case, crystal sapphire casebacks, titanium crown
  2. Diameter: 44 mm / 43 mm
  3. Height: 15.4  mm 
  4. Water resistance: 100 m
 
  1. Dial:  Ford Mustang Green, Shelby Cobra Blue, Chevrolet Corvette Brown, Super-LumiNova luminescent hour and minute hands, vertically brushed Highland Green dial, Brown dial crafted from a single piece of walnut burl wood, black outer tachymeter ring, 60-minute chronograph subdial at 6 o’clock fixed with two screws, tourbillon at 12 o'clock with a skeleton bridge fixed with two screws
 
  1. Movement: Automatic Breitling Manufacture Caliber B21 with la Manufacture La Joux-Perret, COSC-certified, engraved skeleton rotor, horizontal clutch
  2. Functions: Chronograph, Hours, minutes, seconds 
  3. Power reserve: 55 hours
  4. Frequency: 28,800 vph (4Hz) 
 
  1. Bracelet / Strap :  Ford Mustang and Chevrolet Corvette editions feature a brown calfskin leather strap with titanium folding buckle, while Shelby Cobra features a blue calfskin leather strap with titanium folding buckle
 
  1. Availability:  Permanent Line 
  2. Price: 45,000 EURO which is equivalent to 179,550 AED

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