Breitling Emergency E76321 Oman Royal Airforce
Famed for their pilot’s watches and general devotion to tool watches, it is no surprise that Breitling would be the first watchmaker to create a timepiece designed specifically to have a life-saving function. Launched in 1995 and built for pilots, aircrew and anyone else that might need one, the Emergency features a built-in emergency transmitter that sends out an S.O.S. signal to the emergency services and acts as a beacon for those services to detect the source of the signal, should the wearer unscrew and pull out the transmitter’s antenna found on beneath the lugs at 6 o’clock. With a 48-hour battery life and a maximum range of about 160km assuming perfect conditions, the Emergency is a powerful watch indeed. In fact, the Emergency has actually saved lives in the past, with an incident occurring in 2003 when two stranded helicopter pilots activated their Breitling Emergency while lost in Antarctica, which led to the search teams making the life-saving discovery. Made of titanium, the ref. E76321 that we have here makes up for its large 43mm case and bracelet thanks to titanium’s lightness. Furthermore, on top of its blue dial, this example also features a red khanjar dagger denoting its lineage as a special-order timepiece requested from Breitling by the Sultanate of Oman. Featuring two digital screens alongside its central hour and minute hands, the Emergency features a perpetual calendar, chronograph and alarm amongst other complications. Furthermore, this example sports a red Khanjar dagger that stands out proudly against its blue dial. These were worn by pilots in the Oman Royal Airforce. While the Emergency's name alludes to its very real use case, its distinctive emergency pin is adorned with warnings to only use it in a real emergency, such is its legitimate function as a life-savings device. The watch comes with its original full set as shown.
