Breitling Emergency

BRIEF HISTORY

First released in 1995 and manufactured till 2010. With over 40,000 units sold, the Breitling Emergency has helped save many lives. It was the first watch ever to integrate a personal locator beacon (PLB). The watch houses a 121.5MHz Emergency transmitter, with range of 160km and will transmit for 48 hours. 

Still widely monitored, 121.5MHz is the old emergency channel. The newer Emergency 2 has dual transmitters and transmits on both the 121.5MHz and 406MHz, which has a 100x the range.

Vintage Breitling Emergency Adverts

Ernest Schneider, who bought the Breitling company also designed the Emergency. With his military background, he understood the usefulness and need of a transmitter. He set about to create the technology that could be miniaturised to a size that would fit inside a watch.

THE ULTIMATE TOOL WATCH

Could this be the ultimate tool watch? It’s a multi-function watch that features: Time, Date, Date, Perpetual Calendar, Second Time Zone, Countdown Timer, Chronograph, Alarm. 30m water resistance. Compass spec bezel for direction using the sun. It takes 3 batteries which last around 3 years.

This Emergency Super Quartz was available in 4 colour options, Intrepid Orange, Cobra Yellow, Volcano Black and Blue. It’s shown here with the transmitter tester and both the Titanium and Rubber Dive strap. To activate the transmitter, you simply unscrew the antenna screw and pull the antenna fully out to its full extent. On the upper left side of the watch, there is a secondary antenna.

This for me, is the watch that first grabbed my attention back in the early 2000’s. 
I distinctively remember seeing the Emergency for the first time. It’s Yellow dial and bulge of the antenna, it looked so cool. Skip forward almost 20 years and my circumstances had changed slightly and all of a sudden I was in the position that it might be possible to own one. 

Eventually, it happened. One came along at the right time and price. I can remember that feeling, as if it was last week. I was so excited, I was about to buy the watch I’d dreamt of owning almost 20 years before. 

At last, I owned one and every time wear it, it makes me smile. The titanium case and bracelet, make this watch so easy to wear. 

38mm

19mm

48mm

13.5mm

Mark – Breitling was my first ‘real’ watch and one I lusted after in my twenties and thirties (until i was able to afford to buy one). The Emergency is a great looking watch and I love the bright yellow dial. Even as a 39mm, it wears quite large on my 7″ wrist due to the large Emergency crown at 4 0’clock, however being made of Titianium, it is light enough not to notice that much. I remember when Neil bought this, i was so thrilled for him as he wanted one of these for so long. It is great seeing your brother happy, and that makes me happy too.