It’s easy to forget that luxury watches are still functioning tools. With all the glitz and glamour incorporated into these timepieces, they’ve become products of mere decoration and fashion accessories. Fortunately, the premier watch brands of today know that the luxury timepiece market needs items that have a substantial balance of both. They shouldn’t only look good but needs to actually be useful in any situation. Such is the case for Breitling’s now famous Emergency II watch.
Compare Breitling Emergency II Watch Prices Online
Release date: January 2013
Retail Price: US$15,000.00
Breitling’s Emergency watches became extremely popular in the 1990s. The notion of having an accessory that can help save one’s life was the biggest draw from critics and collectors alike. In January 2013, during the Baselworld art show, the Swiss luxury watch manufacturer released a second iteration of the 90s favorite. To this day, the Emergency II is still sold and available for public purchase at a whopping $15,000.
Specifications:
- Diameter: 51mm
- Movement: Quartz
- Water Resistant: 50 meters
- Power Reserve: 42 hours
- Frequency: 406.040 MHz
- Strap: Titanium steel or push button
- Buckle: Folding clasp
Pros
Similarly to the 1990s, the best part about Breitling’s Emergency II watch is still its antenna cap. Pulling this feature will trigger fast communications to help locate any wearer who may be stranded on any part of the world. This state-of-the-art function is what made the original iteration extremely popular in the first place, and is now completely updated for contemporary clients. With this ingenious part alone, the watch is already worth the thousands of dollars needed to purchase this piece.
Cons
Breitling is known for their military-style timepieces and the Emergency II watch is clearly no exception. However, in the today’s more stylized luxury timepiece market, military designs are often a hit or miss. Clients and collectors want glamour and sophistication these days, and while the Emergency II has such refined innovative functions, it lacks in its overall design impact. Not even the various bright-colored dials and straps it’s offered in are of much help.
Compare with:
- Breitling Professional Aerospace Evo
- Hublot Big Bang Referee 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia
- Breitling Professional Cockpit B50
- Ulysse Nardin GMT Perpetual 326
Image Credits: Forbes magazine (featured images), Swiss AP Watches Blog, Horobox, Cigar Aficionado, Jura Watches (article images).
