So recently it came to our attention that the Breitling Emergency watch has some changes made to it’s distress frequency.
The Breitling Emergency watch uses the 121.5 MHz distress frequency and the International Satellite System For Search and Rescue (COSPAS-SARSAT) will be terminating the 121.5 MHz emergency frequency satellite processing service on February 1st.
So what does this mean for Breitling Emergency watch owners? Does this mean your current watch won’t have these features? That the Breitling Emergency watches won’t be for “emergencies†anymore?
No, if you were told that you were misinformed! This is how it works. COSPAS-SARSAT is terminating the satellite processing part of the 121.5 MHz which will affect boats, aviation, and personal beacons. However COSPAS-SARSAT won’t be terminating homing devices, which don’t rely on satellite, like the Breitling Emergency.
So basically, your Breitling watch functions will still work. Because the Breitling Emergency watch is just to help locate you if you are in distress, and not meant to trigger an “alert” the new COSPAS-SARSAT changes won’t affect the Breitling Emergency Watch.
For more information, here is the offical .pdf file released by Breitling.
Today I stumbled across a 9 minute movie about the Breitling Emergency Watch. The Breitling Emergency watch is a popular Breitling watch worn by adventurist that allows you to send a distress signal out to emergency officials when you get into danger.
Someone on Twitter asked me today what’s the difference between the Breitling Emergency and the Breitling Emergency Mission besides the obvious dial differences. Well in order to understand the difference you have to look at each watches technical specifications:
Calibers: The Breitling Emergency has a Breitling 76 Caliber and the Breitling Emergency Mission has a Breitling 73 Caliber
Movement: Both watches a have SuperQuartz(tm), thermocompenstated quartz electronic movement however, the Breitling Emergency has a 12/24 hour LCD digital display with EOL indicator and the Breitling Emergency Mission has fast time zone change capabilities
Chronograph: The Breitling Emergency has a 1/100th second, max 23 hours 59 minutes 59,999 second chronograph. The Breitling Emergency Mission has a 1/10th second, 60 minutes, 12 hour chronograph with split times
Calendar: The Breitling Emergency has a digital calendar with programmed day and date for 4 years. The Breitling Emergency Mission has a dial aperture calendar.
Case: The Breitling Emergency has a Titanium case but is also available in 18 K yellow or white gold. The Breitling Emergency Mission has a steel case.
Water Resistance: The Breitling Emergency has 3 bars of water resistance including a working transmitter while under water. The Breitling Emergency Mission has 330 feet of water resistance.
Bezel: Both Breitling watches have a bidirectional bezel but the Breitling Emergency has a compass scale bezel and the Breitling Emergency Mission has a countdown bezel.
Crown: Both watches have two gasket crowns but the Breitling Emergency has a non screw-locked crown with a integrated push piece and the Breitling Emergency Mission has a screw-locked crown.
And that’s the major differences between the Breitling Emergency Watch and the Breitling Emergency Mission Watch.
You know him as the “man who cycled the world”, we know him as another famous adventurer who uses the Breitling Emergency watch to survive tough situations. But what new adventure has Mark Beaumont going through special Breitling Emergency watch training to make sure that he uses his watch correctly?
Mark Beaumont’s new adventure could only be crafted and imagined by a group of extreme professionals. The 25-year-old is getting fatter to help him for his next adventure, rowing across the Atlantic at record times as part as the 12-man Artemis Ocean Rowing crew. The crew is actually planning to crash a current record by 15 days. But don’t worry, Mark Beaumont has already knocked an impressive record out the park by becoming the fastest man to cycle around the world.
Mark Beaumont’s most treasured possession on this trip include a Breitling Emergency watch, the same used by Man vs. Wild’s Bear Grylls, which will send a distress signal to search and rescue personnel if the team falls into trouble.
However, the Breitling Emergency watch, which has saved 21 lives, is more complicated than people think. As a matter of fact Mark has to go through training to make sure that he doesn’t accidently activate the emergency distress signal.
I stumbled upon an interesting post today on J.R. Dunn’s Jewelry Blog. The post discusses that Bear Grylls from Man VS. Wild wears a Breitling Emergency watch. The story goes into details about how the Breitling watch is a necessity if you are every in a life threatening situation.
So, exactly how can this Breitling watch save your life? Let’s take a closer look at the emergency feature of a Breitling Emergency Watch.
Designed for pilots and aircrews
Built in micro transmitter broadcasting on the 121.5 MHz aircraft emergency frequency
In case of an emergency the Breitling watch will send a signal that rescuers can detect
Complements an aircraft’s own distress signaling equipment
Activated by unscrewing a protective cap and pulling out an antenna
Broadcasts for 48 hours
Has a range of up to 100 miles on a flat terrain and 20,000 feet in the air
In 2009 the satellite transmitted signal will be picked up on the 406 MHz digital frequency including
GPS and aircraft
Flight Management Systems
But like JR says, don’t activate the Breitling Emergency watch’s transmitter unless you really are in a dangerous situation. There is a $10,000.000 fine if you are not in a life or death situation.
