What-a-watch: Breitling Longitude

There are many watches that have a way of indicating a second time or a second time zone. As many people may know, time zones are delineated by the longitudes of the globe, differing exactly 1 hour and 0 minutes one from the next. So why show a second time instead of only a second time zone on a watch? Probably for design reasons. Adding a second time zone only requires an extra hand or a rotating bezel to register one or two extra time zones. Rotating time zone bezels can be found on many watches. On the other hand, fewer watches have this feature combined with a chronograph or even a chronograph with chronometer precision. Breitling does in their latest model—produced until 2003, reference A20348. It looks like this:

The Brietling Longitude A20348 has an extra time zone hand in silver with yellow filling to have it stand out from the other hands. The bezel turns both ways and is devided into 12 hours for the second timezone. Users simply need to remember if the bezel is aligned with the normal hand or with the extra GMT hand. The extra time zone hand is adjusted in one-hour steps, done by pulling out the crown halfway. The second time zone hand can be hidden under the normal hour hand if you do not need an extra timezone. In addition, the inner bezel displays a compass' 360 degrees. This latest version of the watch is unique because of its chronometer designation, which indicates a higher degree of movement precision. The A20348 uses the normal chronomat case, by the way. The case back can be seen below and typical; most Breitlings of this era are equipped with it.

The series before the Longitude A20348 came in different-colour dials, such as blue, black, and even yellow. The yellow dial is a real eye-catcher and a very fun watch—being one of the first Breitlings offered with a yellow dial in the late 1990's. This is by far my favorite Longitude model.

This Longitude is different not only because of the dial, but also because the case back is a little more intresting as seen below. All features are the same as other Longitude models except this version does not usa a chronometer-grade movement. The GMT hand on this model is the same colour as the other hands, and it is not completly straight but rather has a circular luminous portion. The reference for this Longitude is A20048—the "3" in 20348 stands for chronometer.

Of course, before these Longitude models there were other similar models, commonly known as the Astromat from the early 1990's. The Astromat does not use the chronomat case but has its own unique case and different reference number: A20405.

The Astromat case shows only two time zones because the compass points are on the outside bezel this time and the inside bezel uses a normal tachymetre scale. It is a shame in regards to functionality, but do notice that the GMT hand is the same as the Longitude A20048. Below is the back of this first Longitude edition, again very standard.

There is one common element about all these models: They all use Breitling's Caliber 20 movement. This is, of course, based on the Valjoux 7750 automatic chronograph movement. It is not clear if Breitling made their own additions to the 7750 to make it a Breitling 20 because there is the Valjoux 7754 second time zone movement that can be found in other brand watches such as Sinn and Tutima. Information found on this moment shows it has been manufactured since 2003—when Breitling stopped using it. Did Valjoux develop this movement for Breitling, only to sell it to other brands when Breitling stopped using it? Or did Breitling develop it and sell the patent to Valjoux after it no longer used it? And, of course, the big question: Will Breitling ever make another Longitude model?

It is difficult to pick a personal favorite, but personal it is! Below are both of mine. I have decided to sell the 20348 here: A20348 Longitude chronometre on www.sometimeago.com. I enjoy the yellow dial too much. I am certain will become a classic design, especially if no new Longitude models will be produced .