Breitling and Aston Martin Establish a Shared Tradition

Two names born from a fascination with speed: One measured it, the other mastered it. For over a century, their stories have developed in parallel. Now, Breitling joins Aston Martin and the Aston Martin Aramco Formula One™ Team in a global partnership as the official watch partner.

From the handcrafted high-performance vehicles made in Gaydon and St. Athan to Formula 1 victory ambitions, the partnership spans the entire spectrum of Aston Martin. This new partnership begins with the Navitimer B01 Chronograph 43 Aston Martin Aramco Formula One™ Team, a watch designed for the intensity of races.

'Aston Martin’s cars are as much about presence as they are about performance,' says Georges Kern, CEO of Breitling. 'Both companies stand for timeless design. Every line, surface, and proportion has a function. Nothing is left to chance.'

'Our path to world championship demands partners who match our ambitions,' says Lawrence Stroll, Executive Chairman of Aston Martin and the Aston Martin Aramco Formula One™ Team. 'We are proud to welcome Breitling to the team. We not only share a common heritage but also common values that define our entire operation. The precision, craftsmanship, and technical excellence of Aston Martin Aramco are actively lived by Breitling as well. We are, therefore, very much looking forward to the collaboration.'

Two passions. One aim: Speed.

The parallels between the two brands extend back to the dawn of the automobile. In 1907, Leon Breitling introduced the Vitesse. The name means 'speed' in French and marked the first chronograph capable of measuring speeds up to 250 miles or kilometers per hour. The watch was so precise that it was used by the Swiss police for the first speed-related checks. Years later, in England, Lionel Martin and Robert Bamford tested their homemade racing car in a seminal hill climb on a steep, chalky hill called ‘Aston Hill’. They won the race and kept the name.

Ultimately, Aston Martin entered Formula 1 in 1959. Both F1 drivers, Graham Hill and Jim Clark—also both pilots—wore the Breitling Navitimer. The chronograph with its circular slide rule emerged in 1952 as a cockpit instrument worn on the wrist for pilots to calculate speed, time, and fuel consumption. Hill and Clark transferred these attributes from the skies to the racetrack, making the Navitimer an indispensable companion at the track.

By the 1960s, both brands had become symbols of good style and modern technology. Willy Breitling, the founder's grandson, bid farewell to post-war austerity with another watch, the Top Time, a chronograph for a new generation of speed and style lovers. With its appearance in Thunderball on Sean Connery’s wrist as the first Q-modified gadget watch in the James Bond series, it became a symbol of the era in 1965. The same was true for the legendary Aston Martin DB5, which appeared in both Goldfinger (1964) and Thunderball. By their joint appearance in the same film, they captured the burgeoning fascination with Bond's world, where sophistication met speed and high-tech intrigue.

'?The paths of Aston Martin and Breitling have crossed in key phases of design and culture,' explains Adrian Hallmark, Chief Executive Officer at Aston Martin. 'The partnership is a perfect example of peak performance, virtuous design, and functionality. These are all elements that the name Aston Martin stands for.'

The Navitimer B01 Chronograph 43 Aston Martin Aramco Formula One™ Team

The first timepiece of the partnership brings the Navitimer back into the world of motorsport. The limited number of 1,959 pieces refers to the year of Aston Martin's first involvement in Formula 1.

Every element of the Navitimer B01 Chronograph 43 Aston Martin Aramco Formula One™ Team embodies high performance: Aston Martin Racing Green and the lime green accents of the Aston Martin Aramco livery, the lightweight titanium case - the first ever use in a Navitimer - and the carbon fibre dial recalling materials found in an F1 cock-pit. The textured leather strap resembles a racing harness, while enhanced night-time visibility ensures the watch is readable under all conditions.

The transparent sapphire case back reveals the movement of the watch: the Breitling Manufacture Caliber 01, a COSC-certified chronometer with a 70-hour power reserve designed for absolute precision under load. The specially developed matte black rotor for this edition is made of tungsten with a high-durability PVD coating (Physical Vapor Deposition) and bears the Aston Martin Formula One™ Team logo. The case back is also engraved with 'One of 1959' and 'Instruments for Drivers'.

From chronograph to racing car, from sky to track – Breitling and Aston Martin have always shared a passion for speed. Now, during the Grand Prix season, what belongs together finally comes together.

At the unveiling of the AMR26 on February 9th during the team's presentation, the Breitling logo will appear on Aston Martin Aramco's racing cars and team clothing for the first time. The partnership's debut on the racetrack will then take place at the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne from March 6 to 8, 2026.

Breitling, Aston Martin, and Aston Martin Aramco fans can look forward to more exclusive releases throughout the multi-year partnership. Time and speed, reunited.

Editor's note: Image rights belong to the respective publisher. Image rights: Breitling SA