Astronaut Mark Kelly Talks Breitling Watches, 

& Aviation at Historic New York Explorers Club

Wilton, Conn. (December 17, 2014) – Breitling, the Swiss watch manufacturer hosted an exclusive evening with American Astronaut, retired Navy Captain, and #1 New York Times best-selling author Mark Kelly at New York’s www.explorers.org  Explorers Club.  

Guests including staff members from American International Gemologists www.aiglabs.com had the exclusive opportunity to witness an intimate conversation between Kelly and adventure journalist Jim Clash on the importance of timekeeping throughout his many missions,the future of space travel and his favorite timepieces from the brand. Guests also had a chance to meet with Kelly, while viewing the latest pieces from Breitling, including the Breitling Cockpit B50, and enjoy the Explorers Club during the private event.

“After wearing a Breitling on three of my four NASA flights, I know that I can count on them to be precise, functional and durable. I just don’t think you can find a better watch.” said Mark Kelly, “It was also amazing to get a chance to be in the Explorers Club, because it is filled with such rich history and has seen so many incredible explorers come through its doors.”

With 6,000 flight hours in more than 50 different aircraft, 375 aircraft carrier landings, 39 combat missions and more than 50 days in space, Mark Kelly is one of our country's most experienced pilots.

Guests also had a chance to see the Cockpit B50, which is distinguished by its exclusive new Breitling Caliber B50, a SuperQuartz™ movement ten times more accurate than standard quartz and chronometer-certified by the COSC (Swiss Official Chronometer Testing Institute), the highest benchmark in terms of reliability and precision. Additional functions include split-time and fly back capabilities, as well as a second time zone display, a perpetual calendar, two alarms in buzzer and/or vibrate mode, a lap timer function and a countdown complete with alarm. Another special feature is its use of UTC (Coordinated Universal Time, the aviation reference time) as the time base, which enables the Cockpit B50 to ensure smooth juggling with time zones. Breitling has developed an innovative miniaturized rechargeable battery system; charging can be done via the electricity grid or through a USB port on a computer. The Cockpit B50 also has an ultra-readable display - the two white-on-black liquid crystal (LCD) screens are equipped with a unique backlighting system that offers four levels of brightness and is activated by pressing in the crown or by tilting the wrist.

Breitling USA President Thierry Prissert with Mark Kelly

 BREITLING COCKPIT B50

ABOUT BREITLING : Léon Breitling founded the company in 1884 in St. Imier, Switzerland.

Breitling is the world’s only major watch brand to equip all its models with chronometer-certified

 movements, the ultimate token of precision. With its manufacture of the Caliber 01, Breitling has

 created the most reliable and accurate of all self-winding chronograph movements, its quality

guaranteed by an unprecedented five-year warranty offered on all pieces equipped with the in-house

 movement. The chronographs are produced entirely by Breitling in their own workshops, and are

chronometer certified by the Swiss Official Chronometer Testing Institute (COSC). This amazing

accomplishment has further established Breitling as the absolute benchmark in the field of

mechanical chronographs. Breitling is one of very few companies to produce, develop and

manufacture their own mechanical chronograph movement in-house. This family business is also

one of the last remaining independent Swiss watch brands.