Breitling Colt GMT + Watch

by Ariel Adams (RSS feed)
Feb 2nd 2010 at 12:02PM

For a long time Breitling was really successful with its masculine, active lifestyle watches. It seemed like the crazier the dial, the better. Then consumers finally realized that those crazy busy aviator style dials with loads of information looked cool but where hard to read. So a few years ago Breitling started to release bolder, more simple style watch dials - these focuses mainly around their dive style timepieces. My favorite is the Superocean Heritage, but others came along as well. New for 2010 is a really attractive timepiece that makes Breitling a relevant player in making one of this year's hottest watches. The new Colt GMT + (yes, "plus" with a little "+" sign at the end) is a refreshed Breitling Colt model that delivers style and clarity.

To me Breitling is partially known for having super polished watch cases, here they do no disappoint, but add some brushed finishing around the rotating diver's bezel. The dial is going to be available in a few colors. Without referencing Breitling's stylized names for the tones, you will have black, gray, silver, and blue options. Seen here the watch is on a rubber strap, but it will likely have at least a few metal bracelet options available. The dial is typical in Breitling fashion - stylized by legible. There are subtle cues that Breitling is paying more attention to their competitors. Note how the dial rings carefully border around the TV screen shaped date window - something you'd probably not see in older Breitling watches. I do like the large SuperLumiNova coated hands and hour indexes. The hours are large applied Arabic numerals that make for a manly and easy to read dial. There is also the Rolex style GMT hand with the red tipped arrow.

The case is 41.3mm wide in steel and nicely proportioned all around (also medium sized for Breitling). This is a much more refined Breitling than you might have found 10 years ago. It has a sapphire crystal and is water resistant to 500 meters. Inside the watch is a base Swiss ETA 2893-2 automatic movement that has been COSC Chronometer certified. The watch has already been released I believe, but news comes out about it after it is in stores as part of Breitling's ongoing anti-Internet agenda to prevent online sames. So find an authorized dealer to get your hand's on one. Price should be a few thousand bucks.

Ariel Adams publishes the luxury watch review site aBlogtoRead.com.

Tags: Breitling, Colt, GMT, plus, watch