Breitling and Norton Motorcycles share a strong heritage. Both were founded in the nineteenth century by visionaries who gave their names to their companies and, to a large extent, defined their industries.
When James Lansdowne Norton set up his company – a manufacturer of “fittings and parts for the two-wheel trade” – in 1898 and produced his first motorcycles in 1902, Léon Breitling had already been making watches in the Swiss Jura Mountains for more than a decade. And both brands have also been featured in James Bond films – 007 wore a Breitling Top Time in 1965’s Thunderball and a Norton Dominator SS had a supporting role in Spectre (2015).
The Breitling Premier B01 Chronograph 42 Norton Edition celebrates the partnership between the prestige watch brand Breitling and British motorcycle company Norton, known worldwide for its high-performance motorcycles. The watch is part of Breitling’s Premier collection, a family of elegant watches defined by their fashionable flair.
The new Norton Edition is a distinctive interpretation of the Premier that makes a bold urban chic style statement. Willy Breitling was famously quoted as saying: “When a man puts on his Breitling, there is the unmistakable stamp of impeccable taste.” A Norton motorcycle is a similar sign of its owner’s personal flair.
Stuart Garner, CEO of Norton, agrees: “Breitling’s new Premier Norton Edition incorporates DNA elements from both brands, offering wristwatch and motorcycle fans the opportunity to express their individuality, and perfectly embodies the nature of our brands.”
The Commando 961 Café Racer MKII Breitling Limited Edition recalls the classic appearance and style of the great old style café racers with a modern state-of-the-art components and engineering, in a special Breitling Limited Edition, which is being created in a series limited to 77.
Breitling CEO Georges Kern says that his brand has striking parallels with Norton Motorcycles: “Breitling and Norton are both innovative and entrepreneurial and have powerful legacies. This new watch honors the great partnership between these two aspirational brands.” He smiles and adds, “I think that anyone who puts one on might suddenly imagine ‘Born to be Wild’ playing somewhere in the background.”
The Premier B01 Chronograph 42 Norton Edition is just the beginning of a special partnership between the two brands. Some new surprises will be announced throughout the year.