If it is, fake Breitling’s latest will only inflate the theory. Landing today at a Brobdingnagian
46mm in diameter, the Swiss marque’s new Super AVI (pronounced ‘ah-vee’) family, a
quintet of pleasantly designed pilot’s watches inspired by old-school fighter planes, is huge by contemporary standards. There have been watches this size and bigger before, a good number of them in the best quality replica Breitling stable, but few have been so close to the mainstream as I expect these are intended to be. They’re also vintage-inspired, and few will need reminding that back in the day, luxury copy watches were much smaller than they have been at any time in the 21st century.
If there’s further explanation for the 1:1 fake Breitling Super AVI collection’s proportions, it’s in the purpose it aspires to. Legibility has always been a core principle of any pilot’s watch – in fact, make that of any tool watch – and I’ll win no prizes for identifying that bigger watches are easier to read. Indeed, coupled with large-scale Arabic numerals, the Breitling Super AVI series replica watches online are a gift to the gently myopic.
They’re also a gift to aviation buffs, in whose hearts AAA replica Breitling UK is held particularly dear. As well as reviving the spirit of the brand’s 1953 ‘Co-Pilot’ Ref. 765 AVI aviator’s watch, they’re also finished to evoke the memory of four of history’s most venerated aircraft, namely the North American Aviation P-51 Mustang, the Vought F4U Corsair, the Curtiss P-40 Warhawk, and the de Havilland Mosquito, all of which served the Allies during the Second World War.
Each follows the same form, starting with the 46mm case of the Swiss made fake Breitling and then continuing with a bi-directional rotating bezel with a knurled edge and a 12-hour scale; an oversized crown and vintage pump pushers; a classic, balanced 3, 6 and 9 sub-counter chronograph layout; a GMT function indicated by a central hand pointing to a 24-hour scale running around the dial edge; and top-stitched calfskin straps with folding clasps. Nothing, in other words, to unravel the wholesale pilot’s copy watch trope – and why should there be?
Colourways and detailing then differ to align each watch with its namesake aircraft, finished off by sapphire case backs printed with the front-on silhouette of each plane. There’s one of each in stainless steel, and the fifth member of the formation is an upscale 18-carat red gold version of the perfect fake Breitling P-51 Mustang that’ll only be available via Breitling’s boutiques and website.
Across the range, the power unit is cheap replica Breitling’s B04, an automatic chronograph based on the company’s now stalwart in-house B01 calibre, only with the addition of a second time zone. As standard therefore, you get a 70-hour power reserve, chronometer accuracy and a quarter of a second chronograph. Prices start from £7,900 and rise to £19,200 for the red gold Mustang model (which arrives in February).
Like Breitling’s Top Time copy for men inspired by classic cars launched in August, none of these is limited, suggesting Breitling is dead-set on playing to the mid-century nostalgia crowd for some time. It’s also using the new high quality fake watches to introduce us to the ‘Classic AVI’ collection, which will replace its lesser-spotted Aviator 8 line. Further models in-bound, no doubt.
A big brief as well as a big watch, then. Although let’s not forget. A 46mm Swiss movement fake Breitling pilot’s watch isn’t a novelty in itself – the 46mm Navitimer is a collection mainstay and a perennial favourite. But that is one of watchmaking’s more idiosyncratic designs; the top copy Breitling Super AVI has a more conventional feel to it. As interesting as how well it’s received will be to see if other brands follow suit and climb the size chart, too.
