Breitling Aerospace EVO: The Breitling I Didn't Expect

A Discovery

I still remember watching Richard Hammond pull out his Breitling Emergency II while stranded in the snowy mountains of British Columbia.

For most people, it was probably just another memorable moment from Top Gear. For me, it was the moment I started thinking seriously about the Breitling as a brand to own.

There was something cool about seeing a watch actually being used for what it was designed to do - although likely staged. This wasn't a tool watch sitting on a desk or a chronograph timing a parking meter. The Emergency was designed for people who might genuinely find themselves in a bad situation.

I wanted one.

There was just one problem. As a Canadian, buying an Emergency II through an Authorized Breitling Dealer isn't really an option because of the radio regulations surrounding its emergency transmitter.

So I started looking for the next best thing.

That eventually led me to the Breitling Aerospace EVO.

At first, I thought of it as a smaller and simpler alternative to the Emergency II. After spending some time with it, I realized that's not really fair to the Aerospace.

It's a very different watch, and that's actually what makes it interesting.

A Big Watch That Doesn't Feel That Big

The Aerospace EVO measures 43 mm across and 51 mm lug-to-lug, so it's certainly not a small watch.

Specifications:

• Case diameter: 43 mm
• Thickness: 10.8 mm
• Lug-to-lug: 51 mm
• Lug width: 22 mm
• Case: Titanium
• Weight: Approximately 100 grams
• Water resistance: 100 metres
  

On paper, those numbers sound like they should result in a fairly substantial watch.

Surprisingly, it doesn't wear that way.

The lugs curve down toward the wrist, and the 10.8 mm thickness keeps the watch relatively flat. The titanium case makes an even bigger difference. At around 100 grams, the Aerospace is remarkably light for its size.

I've worn smaller watches that somehow feel much heavier and more cumbersome.

The Aerospace is the opposite. It has plenty of wrist presence without constantly reminding you that you're wearing a 43 mm watch.

That thin profile is also one of the reasons I think it works so well as an everyday watch. It can slip under a shirt cuff without much effort, something that isn't always possible with modern pilot watches.

It Looks Like a Tool Because It Is One

The Aerospace has been part of Breitling's lineup since 1985, originally introduced as a professional pilot's watch.

The design has evolved, but the basic idea remains: give the wearer useful information and functions without making the watch unnecessarily complicated to operate.

The dial is a good example.

You get traditional analog hands alongside two digital displays, all controlled through a single crown.

The crown has three different inputs: push, slow rotation and fast rotation. These combinations allow you to move through the watch's various functions.

I'll admit, it took me a little while to get used to the difference between a slow and fast rotation. It's not exactly intuitive the first time you pick it up.

Once you get the hang of it, though, it becomes surprisingly natural.

And there's something satisfying about having this many functions without a row of buttons sticking out of the case.  I definitely can't say the same about a G-shock as I would need to look up the instruction menu every time I try to set one of those.

The dial is also extremely legible. The large hands and numerals are easy to pick out at a glance, while the digital displays give you additional information without cluttering the dial.

The Details Make It More Than Just a Tool Watch

For something designed primarily as an instrument, the Aerospace has a surprising amount of refinement.

The case is mostly satin-brushed titanium, but the hands and the 12, 3, 6 and 9 o'clock markers have polished surfaces that catch the light.

Then there's the Breitling winged-anchor logo.

On the Aerospace EVO, the logo is made from solid 18k white gold.

It's a strange little luxury detail on an otherwise very utilitarian watch. You have a lightweight titanium case and a quartz movement designed around practicality, and then Breitling puts a piece of precious metal right in the middle of it.

You probably won't notice it from across the room.

But up close, it adds just enough refinement to keep the Aerospace from feeling like a piece of aviation equipment.

The Bezel Is Better Than It Looks

One of the details I particularly like is the unidirectional bezel.

It has a very deliberate feel when you turn it. The clicks are positive, and the rider tabs give you plenty of grip.

But the interesting part is how the bezel is actually attached.

It's secured to the case with screws from the sides, effectively making it a captive bezel. The bezel can't simply be knocked off; the screws need to be removed before it can come off the case.

It's a small detail, but it's consistent with the rest of the watch.

Breitling didn't seem interested in making the Aerospace complicated just for the sake of it. The design choices generally have a purpose.

The same goes for the titanium case, sapphire crystal and 100 metre water resistance. This is a watch that is quite happy being worn rather than carefully stored.

What It's Like to Actually Wear

This is probably where the Aerospace won me over.

The longer I wear it, the less I think about its specifications.

I don't think about the 43 mm diameter or the 51 mm lug-to-lug. I notice that it's light. I notice that it's thin. I notice that I can read it quickly and that I don't have to worry about setting the time every few weeks.

The alarm is useful.

The second time zone is useful. (I traveled twice with it and always use T2 to track home time)

The chronograph is there when I need it.

And the bezel is just fun to use.

That's a different kind of luxury.

With a mechanical watch, part of the appeal is knowing there's a tiny mechanical machine working away on your wrist. With the Aerospace, the appeal is almost the opposite.

It's a muti-tool, always ready when you are.

It just works.

And when you do want to use the additional functions, they're there.

Final Thoughts

I originally became interested in the Aerospace because I wanted something that reminded me of the Breitling Emergency II.

After actually owning one, I don't really see it as a substitute anymore.

The Aerospace EVO has its own personality.

It's a serious aviation watch, but you don't need to be a pilot to enjoy it. It's a quartz watch, but calling it "just quartz" misses the point. And while it's clearly designed as a tool, Breitling has added enough finishing and detail to make it feel like a luxury tool.

For me, that's the appeal.

It's lightweight without feeling cheap, complicated without being frustrating, and functional without looking like a piece of electronics.

Most importantly, it's a watch I actually enjoy wearing.

I went looking for an Emergency II.

Instead, I ended up with a watch that I probably wouldn't have appreciated nearly as much if I hadn't started looking for one in the first place.