From now until the 6th of October, Time Capsule: The Breitling Heritage Exhibition hits Sydney and then moves to Melbourne on the 9th of October.
If you’re a fan of Breitling, or just a watch lover in general, then you’re in for a treat as Time Capsule: The Breitling Heritage Exhibition has started in the Sydney Breitling Boutique on Market Street in Sydney’s CBD. On now until the 6th of October, the exhibition has some major and historic pieces core to the Breitling brand, its DNA and of course, the watches. On show are 17 pieces that have been brought over from Switzerland that are the embodiment of Breitling, and for those curious as to where the roots of the Navitimer, or Chronomat (to name a few) came from, then this is an exhibit for you!
Watch Advice had the pleasure of having a sneak peek of this travelling exhibition just before the public opening this week, and while you can pop in and see these at any time, we would highly recommend booking online (don’t worry, it’s free!) for you own tour of these pieces. As with anything, the personal touch matters, and with heritage pieces like Breitling’s on display, you will not regret discovering these with your own tour guide through Breitling’s history.
Walking through pieces like the original Navitimer from 1952, or going back even further to Gaston Breitling’s mono-pusher from 1915 will give you a great sense of the brand’s past, but also where the brand is today and where it is heading.
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Before you even get into the boutique, on proud display in the window are some key historic pieces from Breitling’s aviation history. An aviation clock from 1938 that Breitling created via their Huit Aviation Department showcases Breitling’s strong links with aircraft, which eventually led to pieces like the Navitimer in 1952 or the ref 809 Cosmonaute -the first Swiss wristwatch in space worn by Scott Carpenter on board the Aurora 7 spacecraft in 1962.
Entering the boutique, we get taken through the exhibit, starting at the Watch Bar at the front of the boutique where you can learn about several pieces core to Breitling’s air, water and land-associated pieces. Of note, and something you must see in person is the original SuperOcean from 1957, which the current SuperOcean ‘57 collection is based on, and the very first Premier, which Willy Breitling designed and came out in 1943 as a sporty Gentleman’s Watch.
With our guide, you learn a lot about the pieces, their history and how these all link into the modern watches of today. Even here at Watch Advice where we live and breathe watches, we still learn little facts when talking to brand experts. One such piece that we were not all that familiar with is one that Breitling has dubbed the world’s first “smart watch” – a Chronomat with a slide rule allowing the wearer to do complex calculations easily. Yes it’s not an Apple Watch, but before iPhones, smart watches, and even the calculator watches of the 1980s, the 1942 Chronomat was groundbreaking and used widely by mathematicians
Breitling has its own unique style, and a visit to a Breitling Boutique is like stepping into the brand itself, with memorabilia, merchandise and all things that are emblematic of Breitling and what they stand for. Without looking at a single watch, you can be immersed into the world of Breitling very easily, and then once you start looking at and trying on the pieces, you completely understand the watches that Breitling produces and why!
As we work our way through the exhibition, we are shown a Piece Unique ladies Cocktail Watch from the 40s, which was worn by Willy Breitling’s wife, Beatrice, herself. Just another one of the gems that was found by Breitling historians and we are lucky enough to have this in Australia, and a watch which pictures don’t do justice to!
Breitling’s Time Capsule Heritage Exhibition showcases so many great watches from Breitling’s 140 years of history and really takes you through the journey of a brand that has had many, many firsts, and is still having firsts today. If you’re in Sydney then make sure you head into the Breitling Boutique on Market Street before the 6th of October, and if you’re in Melbourne, then look out for this travelling exhibition that starts on the 9th of October and runs through to the 21st at the Breitling Boutique on Collins Street in the Melbourne CBD.
As we mentioned earlier, for the best experience, hit the registration link below to maximise your time there, and learn from Breitling’s watch experts and take a journey with them!
Time Capsule: Breitling’s Traveling Heritage Exhibition Australia
Exhibition Details – Sydney
- Runs from September 25th – October 6th 2024.
- Located at the Breitling Boutique, 61 Market Street Sydney CBD
Exhibition Details – Melbourne
- Runs from October 9th – October 21st, 2024
- Located at the Breitling Boutique, 120 Collins’s Street, Melbourne CBD
