The story behind this Breitling Premier B01 Chronograph 42 Norton
The Breitling Premier B01 Chronograph 42 Norton celebrates the partnership between Breitling and Norton, the British motorbike manufacturer. Unveiled in 2019 as the Norton Edition, the AB0118A21B1X1 model draws on the Premier collection – the brand’s most elegant line – whilst lending it a more urban feel. The two brands share parallel histories. Léon Breitling has been manufacturing watches in the Swiss Jura since 1884, whilst James Lansdowne Norton founded his business supplying cycling equipment and spare parts in 1898, before producing his first motorbikes from 1902 onwards. Their paths also crossed in the world of cinema, as Agent 007 wore a Breitling Top Time in *Thunderball* in 1965, whilst a Norton Dominator SS appeared in *Spectre* in 2015.
Case, movement and strap of this Premier B01 Chronograph 42 Norton
The 42 mm steel case, 13.65 mm thick, features alternating polished and brushed surfaces. Its left side features a plate engraved with the Norton logo, secured by two visible screws. The domed sapphire crystal covers a black dial with white sub-dials featuring an azure finish, with gold-tone applied Arabic numerals, matching hour and minute hands, a tachymeter scale on the white flange and a date window at 6 o’clock. The crown, bearing the letter ‘B’, is flanked by two rectangular pushers. On the back, the screw-down sapphire crystal caseback reveals the movement through an imprint of the Norton logo and a motorbike. This is the Breitling Manufacture Calibre 01, a self-winding movement certified as a chronometer by the COSC. It offers a power reserve of approximately 70 hours and beats at 28,800 vibrations per hour on 41 jewels. Its column-wheel chronograph measures quarters of a second and has a 30-minute totaliser, with the small seconds hand occupying the 9 o’clock sub-dial. The watch is water-resistant to 100 metres. The brown calfskin strap, with a raw finish and accented with ecru topstitching, tapers from 22 mm at the lugs to 20 mm at the Breitling-branded steel folding clasp.
Why this Breitling watch
The Norton Edition is no longer available from Breitling, and the reference is listed as sold out on the brand’s website. The second-hand market remains the only way to acquire it. It features a manufacture chronograph certified as a chronometer, a power reserve of nearly three days – allowing it to be left to rest over the weekend – and a black dial with white sub-dials that can be read at a glance. With a diameter of 42 mm and lugs curved towards the wrist, it retains classic proportions. The engraved plate on the side and the printed caseback remain discreet when worn, and are only revealed to those who turn the watch over.
Contents and condition
The watch is supplied as a full set, with its Breitling presentation box in its cardboard case, its blue box, its blue leather pouch and instruction booklet, its international warranty card dated September 2019, the COSC chronometer certificate and its medallion. Having been worn with care, it shows slight signs of external wear. The case, pushers and crystal remain in good condition, and the raw leather of the strap has developed the patina characteristic of this material, with no tears.
Warranty and delivery
The Swiss Collector guarantees the authenticity of this watch, which is covered by a 24-month warranty. We accept returns within 10 days in accordance with our terms and conditions. As Switzerland’s leading second-hand retailer, backed by the largest network of shops, we offer online booking for a fitting and in-store collection, or fully secure international delivery.
* Very good condition – watch has been worn. Slight signs of external wear. Case and strap in excellent overall condition.
