New York, NY/Tampa, FL, July 26, 2019 – It was announced today that Breitling has partnered with IRONMAN, a Wanda Sports Group company, in launching the Breitling Superocean Automatic IRONMAN Limited Edition timepiece. As part of the partnership, Breitling becomes the Official Luxury Watch of IRONMAN® and will also be present at several events, including the IRONMAN® 70.3® World Championship in Nice, France, and the 2019 Vega® IRONMAN® World Championship in Kailua-Kona, Hawai’i.
To celebrate the partnership and offer a first look at the watch, a special event was held at the Breitling boutique in New York City last night, cohosted by Breitling USA President Thierry Prissert and Andrew Messick, President and CEO of The IRONMAN Group. Over 150 guests attended the event, among them Paula Newby-Fraser – known as the Queen of Kona, who earned the title after winning the IRONMAN® World Championship eight times – and Mike Reilly, the Voice of IRONMAN®. Also at the event were some of the elite athletes who will be participating in the ViewSPORT® IRONMAN® Lake Placid triathlon, set to take place in Lake Placid, NY, on July 28, 2019.
The partnership with IRONMAN® is ideal for Breitling, bringing two premium brands together for the first time. Georges Kern, CEO of Breitling, said, “We’re particularly excited to be working with IRONMAN®. The three members of our Triathlon Squad have all distinguished themselves in IRONMAN® events. Jan Frodeno won back-to-back IRONMAN® World Championships in 2015 and 2016, and Chris ‘Macca’ McCormack has also claimed two titles – in 2007 and 2010. It goes without saying that Daniela Ryf’s accomplishments have been spectacular: she is the reigning IRONMAN® World Champion, having won four straight titles along with her four IRONMAN® 70.3® World Championships in the last five years. The sport has enjoyed enormous popularity and the performance and endurance of its great competitors reflect Breitling’s values perfectly.”
Daniela Ryf has continued her impressive form and recently won IRONMAN® Austria in Klagenfurt, finishing more than 26 minutes ahead of her nearest challenger. Jan Frodeno showcased his talents once more as he defied scorching temperatures and overcame a talented field to win the IRONMAN® European Championships in late June. Speaking about the partnership, Jan said:
“I am very excited to be a part of this partnership between IRONMAN® and Breitling, two iconic brands that are bringing together a sporting elegance that is second to none.”
Andrew Messick is excited about the new partnership: “Breitling has already demonstrated its appreciation for triathlon with its impressive squad of triathletes, all of whom have had great success in our most prestigious events. We are delighted to collaborate with Breitling in the creation of a great new watch that celebrates the passion, commitment, and incredible achievements of our athletes.”
The IRONMAN® Triathlon Series offers athletes the opportunity to push themselves further than they ever thought possible by swimming 2.4 miles (3.8 kilometers), cycling 112 miles (180 kilometers), and running 26.2 miles (42.2 kilometers) en route to completing one of the world’s most challenging single-day endurance races and earning the coveted title of IRONMAN. Since its inception in 1978, the IRONMAN® triathlon has come to represent the ultimate test of body, mind, and spirit for both professional and amateur athletes. The competition stages – swimming, cycling, and running – are activities that feature prominently in the lifestyles of Breitling’s core customer base: men and women of action, purpose, and style.
The Breitling Superocean Automatic 44 IRONMAN® Limited Edition
The Breitling Superocean Automatic 44 IRONMAN® Limited Edition, which celebrates the partnership with IRONMAN and its events, is a member of Breitling’s popular family of Superocean divers’ watches. It has a 44-millimeter stainless-steel case and a black dial featuring the unmistakable IRONMAN® logo. It is presented on a red Diver Pro III rubber strap with a pin buckle. Its ratcheted unidirectional rotating bezel is an essential feature for divers as it can be used to track the elapsed time underwater.
The numerals, indexes, and hands are coated with Super-LumiNova®, a luminescent material that allows optimal readability in any lighting conditions. The COSC-certified chronometer has central hour, minute, and second hands.
This self-winding watch is powered by a Breitling Caliber 17, an automatic mechanical movement that offers a power reserve of 38 hours. It is water-resistant to an incredible 100 bar (1000 meters).
The Superocean Automatic 44 IRONMAN® Limited Edition has a caseback engraved with the IRONMAN® logo and the legend “ONE OF 300”, reflecting its coveted limited-edition status. The watch will be available exclusively on Breitling’s own e-commerce channel, in selected Breitling boutiques, and on site at the IRONMAN® 70.3® World Championship in Nice and IRONMAN® World Championship in Kailua-Kona.
An Incredible Legacy: The Breitling Superocean
When the first Breitling Superocean models were launched in 1957, they made it clear that there was a major new player in the divers’ watch market. These timepieces were distinguished by their exceptional performance, their quality, and their pure Breitling style. In the more than 60 years since, the family has remained a favorite, and each watch in the collection has been created to stand up to the rigors of the most challenging water sports.
While the members of the collection reflect the brand’s deep-water DNA, they are certain to appeal to all men and women with active lifestyles. With their clean, sporty design and impeccable performance, the watches in the Superocean collection – available in a wide range of case sizes – will look at home on any wrist and in any environment.
About Breitling
Since 1884, Breitling has established a global reputation for high-precision timepieces, its pioneering role in the development of the wrist chronograph, and its uncompromising commitment to design excellence. With the brand’s storied association with aviation, Breitling has shared the finest moments in humankind’s conquest of the skies. Renowned for its spirit of innovation, it has also earned a place of privilege in the worlds of science, sport, and technology. Breitling manufactures its own movements in-house and the quality of every watch is confirmed by its status as a COSC-certified chronometer, made in Switzerland.
About The IRONMAN Group
As part of Wanda Sports Group, The IRONMAN Group
operates a global portfolio of events that includes the IRONMAN® Triathlon Series, the IRONMAN® 70.3® Triathlon Series, 5150™ Triathlon Series, the Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon Series®, Iron Girl®, IRONKIDS®, International Triathlon Union World Triathlon Series races, road cycling events including the Velothon® Series, mountain bike races including the Absa Cape Epic®, premier running events including the Standard Chartered Singapore Marathon and The Sun-Herald City2Surf® presented by Westpac, trail running like Ultra-Trail Australia™, and other multisport races. IRONMAN’s events, together with all other Wanda Sports Holdings events, provide more than a million participants annually the benefits of endurance sports through the company’s vast offerings. The iconic IRONMAN®
Series of events is the largest participation sports platform in the world. Since the inception of the IRONMAN® brand in 1978, athletes have proven that ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE® by crossing finish lines at the world’s most challenging endurance races. Beginning as a single race, IRONMAN® has grown to become a global sensation with more than 230 events across 53 countries. For more information, visit www.ironman.com.
About Wanda Sports Group
Wanda Sports Group is a leading global sports events, media, and marketing platform with a mission to unite people in sports and enable athletes and fans to live their passions and dreams. We have significant intellectual property rights, long-term relationships, and broad execution capabilities, enabling us to deliver unrivaled sports event experiences, creating access to engaging content and building inclusive communities. We offer a comprehensive array of events, marketing, and media services through three primary segments: Mass Participation, Spectator Sports and Digital, Production, Sports Solutions (DPSS). Our full-service platform creates value for our partners and clients as well as other stakeholders in the sports ecosystem, from rights owners, to brands and advertisers, and to fans and athletes.
Headquartered in Beijing, China, Wanda Sports Group has more than 60 offices and 1600 employees around the world.
The Breitling Superocean Automatic 44 IRONMAN® Limited Edition Technical Specifications
WATCH MOVEMENT
Caliber: Breitling Caliber 17
Diameter: 25.6 millimeters
Depth: 4.6 millimeters
Winder: self-winding, bidirectional with ball bearing
Power reserve: approximately 38 hours
Balance frequency: 28,800 a/h or 4 hertz
Display: hour, minute, second, date window
Certification: COSC-certified
CASE
Material: stainless steel
Diameter: 44 millimeters
Height: 14.21 millimeters
Water resistance: up to 100 bar (1000 meters)
Glass: sapphire, convex, double anti-reflective
Caseback: screwed steel
Crown: screw-locked, two gaskets
Bezel: unidirectional, ratcheted
DIAL/HANDS
Black
Super-LumiNova® luminescent numerals, indexes, and hands
STRAP
Red Diver Pro III strap with pin buckle
