Simply Abu Dhabi XXX

G eorges Kern leaving the Richemont group, where he ran the watch division, was big news in the watch industry at the close of 2017. The former CEO of IWC watches, who transformed the fortunes of that brand, is a renowned figure in the luxury watch sector and is certain to make waves at Breitling. The European private equity firm CVC Capital Partners acquired majority stake in Breitling earlier in same year, valuing the brand at €800 million. Reflecting on big brands with critical size Georges Kern says, ‘If you look at all the independent brands—Rolex, Audemars, Patek—the only one left is Breitling. The brand is very big in the US, UK, Germany, and Japan. It’s a very solid, profitable brand, so it’s not a restructuring; it’s a growth opportunity. Breitling, because of its positioning, brand value and awareness, can be what I would call a commercial powerhouse. ‘And consider the phenomenal power the brand in its history. And nobody knows about that. Breitling invented the modern chronograph; they had the first wristwatch chronograph in space. The intrinsic power the brand has is unbelievable.’ Breitling is world famous for aviation watches and its Navitimer and Breitling for Bentley collections, but these big changes will see the brand embraces its rich history in watches made for land and sea. Also in 2017, Breitling redesigned its Superocean Héritage line to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the brand’s iconic diver’s watch. There are some stunning models in a new 44mm case, as well as a 42mm version in gold and stainless steel. The latter is an eye- catching tribute to the legendary 1957 model. The new Superocean Héritage II B20 Automatic 42 is the kind of watch that would look smart and stylish with formal wear, but you could leave it on when you exchange the boardroom for a series of wreck dives and underwater adventure. In steel or combination steel and red gold, the watch is water-resistant to 200m and features an ultra-hard, scratchproof high-tech ceramic bezel matched with a steel mesh and black rubber bracelet. It is also powered by an officially chronometer-certified self-winding Breitling in-house calibre. With fresh life being breathed into old classics such as the SuperoceanHéritage line and with a vast array of rich heritage to be explored at Breitling, exciting times lie ahead—it’s clear the brand has a “Legendary Future.”