This year marks Breitling’s 140th anniversary, and the brand is set to celebrate with a year of special launches and events. The first is this watch, the Breitling Aerospace B70 Orbiter, marking the 25th anniversary of the historic first nonstop balloon flight around the world by the Breitling Orbiter 3 balloon. This milestone achievement, which took place on March 21, 1999, marked a defining moment not only in aviation history but also in the annals of human exploration. Now, Breitling pays homage to this feat with a timepiece that encapsulates the spirit of adventure and includes an actual piece of aviation history.

The Aerospace, part of Breitling’s professional family, was born in the 1980s, and is one of the most iconic ana-digi watches of all time. Advanced for its time, the Aerospace incorporated a comprehensive tool kit that included a chronograph, alarm, timer, and second timezone. Over the years, the model has evolved and received numerous quality-of-life updates, though this marks the first update to the model under the stewardship of CEO Georges Kern.

The Aerospace B70 Orbiter honours the historic flight and Breitling’s commitment to the spirit of aviation with a tangible link to history. Each watch contains a fragment of the original balloon that circumnavigated the globe, housed within the transparent caseback.

At the heart of the Aerospace B70 Orbiter beats the newly designed COSC-certified Breitling Manufacture Caliber B70—a thermo-compensated SuperQuartz movement renowned for its exceptional precision and reliability. This advanced movement powers a range of sophisticated functions, including a 1/100th of a second chronograph, countdown timer, second timezone, alarms, lap function, and perpetual calendar. Designed to meet the exacting demands of aviation professionals, the Aerospace B70 Orbiter exemplifies Breitling’s unwavering dedication to technical excellence and innovation. The availability of movement has long been cited as an issue for the Aerospace moving forward, and the development of this new quartz calibre is a sign that the model is here to stay. The orange dial fades to black for a dramatic effect, and features the Orbiter logo, as well as an updated visual language on the hour markers, which makes the watch feel more contemporary than Aerospace EVO models. The rider taps on the bi-directional bezel now match the rest of the case, while the older model featured polished details. A small change, but one that impacts the overall feel of this pilot’s watch.

With a 43mm titanium case, the Aerospace B70 Orbiter combines strength with comfort, ensuring its wearer is equipped for any mission, no matter how challenging. The watch is presented on either a titanium bracelet or a black rubber strap, offering versatility and style to complement any adventure.

The Breitling Aerospace B70 Orbiter serves not just as a fitting tribute to one of the most impressive aviation achievements of the modern era; it hopefully marks the start of a new chapter of one of Breitling’s coolest designs, the Aerospace.