The story of this Breitling Montbrillant
The House of Breitling maintains a deep historical connection with the conquest of the skies. The Montbrillant chronograph takes its name from the emblematic building of the manufacture located on the heights of La Chaux-de-Fonds. Launched to celebrate a major milestone in human history, this special edition bearing reference A35330 pays a strong tribute to the centenary of the first powered flight achieved by the Wright brothers in 1903. This piece stands out through a unique technical and narrative feat. Unlike the usual 30-minute counters, the register positioned at 9 o’clock totals only 10 minutes. This specific design draws direct inspiration from the founding flights of aviation, such as the very first take-off at Kitty Hawk which lasted only 12 seconds. A shortened minute counter thus offered the pioneers absolute clarity of reading for extremely brief flight times.
Case, calibre and bracelet of this Montbrillant
Crafted in stainless steel, the case features a fully polished finish and measures 42 mm in diameter, 14 mm in thickness and 48 mm from lug to lug. A domed sapphire crystal fitted with anti-reflective treatment on both sides protects a deep black dial. This technical dial is framed by a silver-toned sloping inner flange supporting the famous circular slide rule. The 2 counters create a balanced bi-compax architecture, overlooked by syringe-shaped hands and large Arabic numerals filled with luminescent material. The solid screw-down caseback is adorned with a meticulous relief engraving of the Wright Flyer aircraft. At the heart of this 30-metre water-resistant case beats calibre 35. This self-winding mechanical movement, fitted with 38 jewels and oscillating at 28,800 vibrations per hour, offers a power reserve of 42 hours. It integrates a rare flyback chronograph complication, allowing the immediate restart of timing. The watch is worn on a black alligator leather strap with white stitching, fitted with an engraved folding clasp.
Why this Breitling watch
Choosing this special edition, produced exclusively during the years 2003 and 2004, is a meaningful decision for any discerning collector. The pre-owned market makes it possible to acquire this specific reference, now absent from the manufacture’s contemporary collections. The integration of the flyback complication, combined with the unusual 10-minute display, gives this creation genuine mechanical singularity. It appeals through its ability to combine the demands of official chronometer certification with an aesthetic rich in meaning. Its value lies in this perfect balance between a modern 42 mm size and absolute fidelity to the cockpit instruments of the past.
Contents delivered and condition
This 2003 creation is delivered in a particularly sought-after complete configuration. The set includes the yellow outer box, the beautiful black Bakelite presentation box, the numbered official chronometer certificate, the cardboard educational slide rule and all the original instruction manuals. The watch is in good overall condition with a few superficial marks testifying to previous wear. The polished steel surfaces retain a fine shine and the dial’s legibility remains impeccable. Our workshop confirms the perfect functioning of the movement, and a cosmetic refresh through polishing remains possible according to your preferences.
Guarantee and delivery
The Swiss Collector guarantees the authenticity of this piece. We accompany it with a 24-month guarantee. We accept returns within 10 days according to our conditions. Leader in pre-owned luxury in Switzerland and backed by the largest network of boutiques, we offer online reservation for an in-store fitting and collection, or fully secured international shipping.
* Good condition – Watch already worn. Some signs of wear (micro-scratches, signs of wear…). Fully functional and tested by our partner watchmakers.
