Breitling watches are no strangers to the big screen and their self-named “Cinema Squad” largely attests to that. Compromising of Brad Pitt, Charlize Theron and Adam Driver, the team of brand ambassadors has allowed several Breitling watches, particularly their Premier and Chronomat watch collections, to make their way onto the red carpet. Unsurprisingly however, one doesn’t have to a paid representative of the Swiss watch brand to adorn one of their timepieces… let’s find out which celebrities have been spotted wearing some of our favourite Breitling watches in the movies.
Thunderball (1965): Paul Stassino & Breitling Navitimer 806
We can’t begin a feature about Breitling watches in the movies without mentioning one of the brand’s most iconic appearances in the 1965 James Bond movie Thunderball. Although not on Bond’s wrist, the Navitimer 806 reference is worn by character Francois Derval, the French NATO ambassador who is eventually seduced and killed by SPECTRE agents Fiona Volpe and Angelo Palazzi. The Breitling watch he wears remains a coveted piece for collectors, sporting the original Venus 178 movement, a smooth black dial, three white subsidiary dials and a sophisticated black leather strap. The modern-day Navitimer 1 B01 watch clearly takes a lot of inspiration from this historic piece.
Blood Diamond (2006): Leonardo DiCaprio & Breitling Chrono Avenger
If there’s one movie legend worthy of wearing a Breitling it’s Leonardo DiCaprio. In the 2006 picture Blood Diamond, DiCaprio sports a Breitling Chrono Avenger watch while playing gunrunner-turned-diamond-smuggler Danny Archer. The lightweight and robust 44mm titanium case would have been right at home in the midst of all the action while the 300 metre water resistant screw down case back, sapphire crystal glass and vintage brown calfskin leather strap would have guaranteed even more durability.
Nightcrawler (2014): Jake Gyllenhaal & Breitling Chronomat
A more recent cameo is the iconic Breitling Chronomat in the 2014 neo-noir thriller Nightcrawler. Worn by Jake Gyllenhaal who plays Louis “Lou” Bloom, a stringer who stumbles upon the underground world of Los Angeles freelance crime journalism, the watch showcases a classic stainless steel case and matching bracelet, a crisp white dial with white subsidiary counters and an COSC certified automatic winding movement to power the chronograph complication. An all-white Chronomat model is a rare sight now, but reference IB0134101G1A1 is a close relation.
Broken Arrow (1996): John Travolta & Breitling Aerospace
Like Breitling, actor John Travolta is renowned for his love of aviation and their shared passions were officially united when he became a Breitling brand ambassador in 2005. Before this however, Travolta was already known to have been a huge fan of Breitling watches and was spotted wearing a Breitling Aerospace in the 1996 film Broken Arrow. Considered one the brand’s most innovative designs, the Aerospace at the time was a 42mm titanium piece fitted with their legendary COSC certified SuperQuartz movement.
Transformers: The Last Knight (2017): Mark Wahlberg & Breitling Cockpit B50 Night Mission
Admittedly anything directed by Michael Bay requires a range of timepieces that can withstand incredibly harsh conditions, and we’re not sure there’s a better model suited to Bay’s love of explosions than the Breitling Cockpit B50. Worn by Mark Wahlberg on the set of the 2017 film Transformers: The Last Knight, the watch is part of the Breitling “Night Mission” series which features an all-black lightweight titanium case and a matching black rubber strap. Even beside the powerful Transformers, this was our favourite piece of tech on screen.
Murder Mystery (2019): Luke Evans & Breitling Superocean Heritage II Chronograph 46
We are quite proud of this spot since it’s not a cameo many people know about it, but while watching the 2019 film Murder Mystery starring Adam Sandler and Jennifer Aniston, we spied a Breitling Superocean Heritage II Chronograph 46 watch on the wrist of actor Luke Evans who plays wealthy yacht owner Charles Cavendish. It looks to us a lot like reference A1331212/C968/152A which is still available to buy in the current Breitling collections.
