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Georges Kern’s five favourite Breitling watches, as named in a 2023 Time+Tide interview, range from a salmon-dial Navitimer chronograph to a turquoise SuperOcean diver. The interview describes why he likes each model, but its article text does not disclose which one he calls his personal number one; that answer is left to the embedded video.
In the interview, Breitling CEO Georges Kern discusses five watches and uses the question of favourites to explain how he approached the brand’s history and modern collections. The list is useful as a guide to his preferences, not as a ranked buying recommendation or an independent watch review.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
|
Breitling Superocean Heritage B20 Automatic Blue Dial Watch UB2010161C1S1 | $6,900.00 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
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Breitling Avenger Chronograph 45mm Mens Blue Watch | $5,550.00 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
|
Avenger B01 Chronograph 42 | $5,250.00 | Buy on Amazon |
Georges Kern’s five Breitling favourites
These are the model names, references and specifications given in the Time+Tide article published December 20, 2023. They reflect that article’s publication-era descriptions; they are not independent test results.
| Model and reference | Details reported in the interview | Kern’s comment |
|---|---|---|
| Navitimer B01 Chronograph 43 AB0138241K1P1 |
43 mm stainless-steel case; salmon dial with black counters; automatic Breitling 01 column-wheel chronograph; reported 70-hour power reserve; 30 m water resistance. | He calls the Navitimer the brand’s “super icon” and praises the salmon dial and contrasting black details. |
| Premier B09 Chronograph 40 AB0930371G1P1 |
40 mm stainless-steel case; silver dial; hand-wound Breitling 09 column-wheel chronograph; reported 70-hour power reserve; 100 m water resistance. | He calls the Premier one of Breitling’s most historical products and likes the silver dial. |
| SuperOcean Heritage B20 Automatic 42 AB2010121L1S1 |
42 mm stainless-steel case; green dial; automatic B20 movement; reported 70-hour power reserve; 200 m water resistance; rubber strap. | He describes the green-dial range as successful. |
| Chronomat B01 42 AB0134101C1A1 |
42 mm stainless-steel case; blue dial with black counters; automatic Breitling 01 column-wheel chronograph; reported 70-hour power reserve; 200 m water resistance; steel “bullet” bracelet. | He says he wears it often, calling it versatile and comfortable: “I wear this all the time.” |
| SuperOcean Automatic 44 A17376211L2S1 |
44 mm stainless-steel case; turquoise dial; automatic Breitling 17 movement; reported 38-hour power reserve; 300 m water resistance; black rubber strap. | He calls it “Slow Time” inspired and says it was the watch he wore all summer. |
Which watch is Kern’s number one?
The article’s written text does not name a winner. It directs readers to the embedded video for Kern’s final choice, so it would be inaccurate to identify any of the five as his definitive number one based on the text alone. Watch the interview at Time+Tide for that answer.
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#1 Best Overall
- Breitling Superocean 42mm Heritage B20 Automatic Blue Dial Watch UB2010161C1S1
How Kern says he reconnected Breitling with its history
A collector’s archive changed his perspective
After joining Breitling, Kern says he sought advice from collector Fred Mandelbaum and visited his collection in Vienna. Seeing dozens of watches exposed the depth of the brand’s back catalogue. Kern recalled: “At that moment I realised I knew nothing about Breitling.” He says the experience showed him that the company had historic products with potential to be brought back.
A broader view of Breitling
Kern describes trying to connect customers drawn to the larger, louder watches of the prior two decades with those who preferred Breitling’s earlier period. He called the goal “a 360-degree view of Breitling.” The interview points to the Premier, Top Time and SuperOcean as lines that returned or were reworked as part of that effort.
Air, land and sea
Kern says the team organized the product story around “air, land, and sea,” illustrated in the interview by the Navitimer, Chronomat and SuperOcean. He adds that the team later found an older advertisement by Willy Breitling using the same segmentation. The SuperOcean, he says, drew on 1950s “Slow Motion” divers.
Rank #2
- Breitling Avenger Chronograph Automatic Blue Dial Men's Watch A13317101C1X1
What the audience figures do—and do not—show
Kern also cited internal Breitling audience research. As reported by Zach Blass in the 2023 interview, Kern said 10% of the target group understood the “new Breitling”; he characterized the other 90% as aware of the brand through its past rather than familiar with current production. He said 80% of that latter group expressed interest in buying after learning about the latest collections.
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One free scan finds every outdated or missing driver and matches the right update for your exact hardware.Free scan · exact hardware matchThose percentages are Kern’s account, not independently verified market statistics. The interview does not state when the underlying research was conducted, how the sample was selected, or what methodology was used. The figures therefore offer context for Kern’s explanation of the brand strategy, but they cannot establish broader consumer demand.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How to read the five-watch list
The selection spans three collection contexts and different case sizes, water-resistance ratings and functions. Three entries are chronographs—the Navitimer, Premier and Chronomat—while the two SuperOceans are automatic watches without chronograph functions in the descriptions provided. The cases range from 40 mm to 44 mm; the reported water-resistance ratings range from 30 m to 300 m.
Rank #3
- Chronograph Movement: Self-winding
- Case Size: 42mm Stainless Steel
- Dial Color: Black
- Water Resistance: Up to 300 Meters
Those differences can help narrow a shortlist, but the interview does not compare the watches in use or establish that one is best for a particular wearer. The listed dimensions and ratings come from the 2023 article, not hands-on testing, and should not be treated as confirmation of present specifications or availability.
Read the full interview and view its embedded video at Time+Tide.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
