Swiss timing meets British horsepower as Breitling joins Aston Martin F1
Aston Martin and Breitling’s new multi-year global partnership feels like a match made in heaven
Breitling has signed on as Official Watch Partner to both Aston Martin and the Aston Martin Aramco Formula One Team, linking two brands that have spent more than a century obsessed with speed, precision and style.
The multi-year global partnership begins with a stunning launch watch: the Navitimer B01 Chronograph 43 Aston Martin Aramco Formula One Team.
I attended the partnership launch, and it quickly became clear that this wasn’t just a logo swap or a shallow licensing deal. Aston Martin’s world of handcrafted performance cars (many of which I’ve had the pleasure of reviewing) sits comfortably alongside Breitling’s reputation for robust chronos designed for pilots, drivers and professionals who care about accuracy under pressure.
“Aston Martin builds cars that are as much about presence as performance,” says Georges Kern, CEO of Breitling. “We share that same heritage of iconic design: every line, finish, and proportion has purpose. Nothing is left to chance.”
Lawrence Stroll, Executive Chairman of Aston Martin and the Aston Martin Aramco Formula One Team, echoes that view. “Our pursuit of a World Championship demands partners who match our ambition. Beyond a shared heritage, we are united by values that drive everything we do – precision, craftsmanship and engineering excellence.”
During the event, I asked Kern about a tension many enthusiasts will recognise. Formula 1 is one of the most high-tech sports on the planet, and rival watch brands in the paddock often reflect that with aggressively modern, technical designs. Breitling, by contrast, is known for traditional silhouettes and heritage-led styling. Would this partnership push the brand into more overtly high-tech territory?
Kern’s answer revealed how Breitling thinks about design evolution. “The watch industry is very much inspired by the car industry,” he said. He recalled cycling past an old Aston Martin finished in pistachio green with beige leather – a colour combination that later inspired a Breitling watch. “At the time, everything was black or blue. That pistachio green dial was a huge success, and soon many other brands followed.”
For Kern, the influence runs deeper than aesthetics. He explained that Breitling looks to carmakers to understand what’s coming next, not just in design, but in materials and colours over the next five to ten years. “That’s why I like coming to see new cars and understand what’s coming,” he said.
Crucially, he framed the Aston Martin partnership as having three distinct pillars. There’s the high-tech Formula One team, the heritage pillar built around iconic products like the Navitimer, and Lagonda, Aston Martin’s luxury and innovation-focused sub-brand. “You’ll see three very different types of products in the market,” Kern said, “each covering one of these segments. That’s what gives the partnership its richness.”
The first watch sets the tone. Limited to 1959 pieces (a nod to Aston Martin’s first Formula 1 season), the Navitimer B01 Chronograph 43 Aston Martin Aramco Formula One Team features Racing Green and lime accents from the team’s livery, a carbon-fibre dial inspired by an F1 cockpit, and a lightweight titanium case, the first ever used on a Navitimer.
Inside is Breitling’s Manufacture Calibre 01, a COSC-certified chronometer with a 70-hour power reserve. You can find out more details on Breitling’s website.
Breitling branding will appear on the Aston Martin Aramco car and team apparel when the AMR26 is unveiled on 9 February, ahead of its on-track debut at the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne from 6 to 8 March.
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Spencer Hart
Buying Guide Editor 
