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 names the models and explains how Kern’s approach to Breitling’s history shaped its collections, but its text does not reveal which watch he chose as his personal number one—the article points readers to the embedded video for that answer.
Time+Tide published the interview on December 20, 2023, with Zach Blass. Kern, Breitling’s CEO, was asked to choose favourite watches; his answers also opened a discussion of the brand’s heritage and its effort to speak to fans of different Breitling eras.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
|
Breitling Superocean Heritage B20 Automatic Blue Dial Watch UB2010161C1S1 | $6,900.00 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
|
Breitling Avenger Chronograph 45mm Mens Blue Watch | $5,550.00 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
|
Avenger B01 Chronograph 42 | $5,250.00 | Buy on Amazon |
Which five Breitling watches did Kern favour?
The interview describes five watches and gives each a distinct collection context, size, movement, and water-resistance rating. These are publication-era details and comments reported in the interview, not independent testing or confirmation of current model status.
| Model and reference | Details reported in the 2023 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 Breitling’s “super icon” and says he likes 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 describes the Premier as one of the brand’s most historical products and praises 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 calls the green-dial range 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 frequently and describes it as versatile and comfortable. |
| 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 a “Slow Time” inspired model and says it was the watch he wore all summer. |
What does the list say about Kern’s taste?
The five choices mix three chronographs with two time-and-date-style divers, and range in case diameter from 40 to 44 mm. The Navitimer and Premier pair chronograph functions with different winding styles: the Navitimer uses an automatic movement, while the Premier B09 is hand-wound. The SuperOcean models instead emphasize water resistance, with ratings of 200 m for the Heritage and 300 m for the Automatic 44. Those ratings are the figures reported in the interview, not a comparative water-resistance test.
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- Breitling Superocean 42mm Heritage B20 Automatic Blue Dial Watch UB2010161C1S1
The designs also span recognizable Breitling identities: the Navitimer’s chronograph legacy, the Premier’s historical styling, the Chronomat’s bracelet, and two SuperOcean interpretations. The interview does not establish that one is objectively better; it presents Kern’s preferences and descriptions.
Which watch is Kern’s number one?
The interview’s written text does not identify a final personal winner. It directs readers to the embedded video for Kern’s answer, so the five watches above should not be treated as a ranked list or as proof that one is his ultimate favourite.
How did Kern try to reconnect Breitling with its history?
A collector’s archive changed his view
Kern says that after joining Breitling he researched the brand and contacted collector Fred Mandelbaum, known online as @watchfred. During a visit to Mandelbaum’s collection in Vienna, seeing dozens of watches showed him the depth of Breitling’s back catalogue. “At that moment I realised I knew nothing about Breitling,” he said. Kern says the experience convinced him the company had a deep history and products that could be brought back or reworked.
Rank #2
- Breitling Avenger Chronograph Automatic Blue Dial Men's Watch A13317101C1X1
A broader view across different eras
Kern describes a divide between customers drawn to the larger, louder Breitling watches of the preceding two decades and those who preferred the brand’s earlier period. He says the goal was to present a “360-degree view of Breitling,” using modern collections alongside lines including Premier, Top Time, and SuperOcean. In his account, the SuperOcean drew on 1950s “Slow Motion” divers.
Air, land, and sea
Kern says the team organized its product thinking around “air, land, and sea.” He recalled that the company later found an older advertisement by Willy Breitling using the same segmentation. The interview illustrates that organizing idea with the Navitimer, Chronomat, and SuperOcean.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What did Kern say about audience awareness?
Kern cited internal Breitling audience research to argue that many people still associated the brand with its past rather than its then-current collections. As reported by Blass in the 2023 interview, Kern said 10% of the target group understood the “new Breitling”; he characterized the remaining 90% as having awareness rooted in the past rather than familiarity with current production. He also said 80% of that group expressed a desire to buy after learning about the latest collections.
Rank #3
- Chronograph Movement: Self-winding
- Case Size: 42mm Stainless Steel
- Dial Color: Black
- Water Resistance: Up to 300 Meters
These are Kern’s attributed figures, not independently verified market statistics. The interview does not state the study year, sample, or methodology, so the percentages cannot be assessed as a published poll or treated as current measures of consumer opinion.
What to check before buying one of these references
The interview is a useful snapshot of Kern’s preferences, not a current buying guide. Specifications, availability, and model status can change; check Breitling’s current listing for the exact reference before relying on the 2023 descriptions. For a personal comparison, consider case diameter, chronograph versus diver-oriented use, movement winding, water-resistance rating, and whether you prefer a strap or bracelet. The interview supplies no independent comparative test or evidence that any one model is the right choice for every buyer.
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Read the full interview by Zach Blass at Time+Tide.
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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.
