BREITLING for Bentley-The Grande Complication Bentley Masterpiece

United under the “winged B”, Breitling and Bentley form an alliance based on their shared values of exclusivity, prestige and performance. Know-how and tradition are two other such values. At Bentley, these reach their fullest expression in the exclusive Mulliner workshops, where several hundred uniquely talented specialists devote their experience and knowledge to personalising a Bentley. Craftsmanship, perfection and individuality are the guiding principles behind their work, culminating in the creation of even more exceptional automobiles.

The culture of tradition and exclusivity is equally important for Breitling. It is in this frame of mind that the chronograph specialist has crafted a rare specimen of Haute Horlogerie dedicated to Bentley. The Grande Complication Bentley Masterpiece is a one-of-a-kind creation assembled on the basis of a century-old ébauche or movement blank from the Breitling archives. Over a year’s work was required to produce it. The Caliber 117 powering the Bentley Masterpiece is equipped with Minute Repeater, Perpetual Calendar and Chronograph functions. Not only does this mechanical masterpiece strike the hours, quarters and minutes (on request), but its
perpetual calendar also indicates the date, the day of the week and the month – taking account of leap years – and even reveals the different phases of the moon during its rotation around the earth. Its single-pushpiece chronograph mechanism indicates 1/5ths of a second.

Image:The Grande Complication Bentley Masterpiece


The finishing of this 19-lignes movement is extremely refined. The decorative “côtes de Genève” ribbing combines with circular-grained motifs; the surfaces of the components are drawn out with a file to create elegant parallel lines; the steel parts and bridges are meticulously hand-bevelled and their chamfer is polished,
as are the screw-heads and the jewels. The spectacular beauty of this complex architecture is revealed through a transparent caseback. The 18-carat gold hunter-type case is composed of six parts and adorned on the cover and back
with a signature Bentley motif.The price of The Grande Complication Bentley Masterpiece was undisclosed till it auctioned at Sotheby’s year-end auctions in London in 2004.