Aston Martin and Breitling announce watch partnership

Breitling Navitimer B01 Chronograph 43 Aston Martin Formula One™ Team

(Image credit: Aston Martin)

With a flourish of yellow silk and a few well-chosen products, Aston Martin has announced to the world that its new official watch partner will be Breitling. Industry watchers might not be terribly surprised by the news; the Swiss manufacturer had enjoyed a long and fruitful partnership with Aston’s longstanding rival Bentley Motors. In October 2024, Bentley’s former CEO Adrian Hallmark – who’d held that position for six years and been at the company far longer – took up the reins at Aston Martin.

Aston Martin Valhalla, DB5 and the 2026 F1 car line-up to celebrate the new partership with Breitling

Clearly, the Breitling relationship has made the same transition. The watch company’s partnership with Bentley ran from 2002 to 2021, during which time it made a number of special editions, provided sponsorship for Bentley’s racing programme and even collaborated on a tourbillon clock for the dashboard of the Bentayga back in 2015.

Aston Martin DB5, 2026 F1 car and Valhalla

Thus far, only a single model spawned from the new association with Aston has been announced, an Aston Martin Formula One edition of the Breitling Navitimer B01 Chronograph 43.

With 2026 marking a step change in F1 rules and Aston’s top-tier motorsport campaign, expect to see a lot more in the near future, as Breitling has also signed up to be the Official Watch Partner for the Aston Martin Aramco Formula One Team.

The 2026 F1 season begins with the Australian Grand Prix on March 8 — The 2026 F1 season begins with the Australian Grand Prix on 8 March

For now, the two companies are using the announcement to reinforce their respective shared ideals, precision, speed and craft – that kind of thing. Breitling, founded in 1884, is the senior partner in brand terms (Aston didn’t arrive on the scene for another 29 years).

It also helps that Breitling has a connection to another longstanding Aston Martin territory, the Bond franchise. Both brands shared the screen in 1965’s Thunderball, the second outing for the legendary DB5 (shown here) and the debut appearance of the Breitling Top Time chronograph on Sean Connery’s wrist.

Aston Martin DB5, wheeled out to celebrate the new partnership with Breitling

According to Hallmark, ‘Aston Martin and Breitling have crossed paths at key moments in design and culture. The partnership is a perfect showcase of excellence, design mastery and performance, something that is integral to everything that Aston Martin puts its name to.’

Georges Kern, CEO of Breitling, says that ‘Aston Martin builds cars that are as much about presence as performance. [Breitling] shares that same heritage of iconic design: every line, finish, and proportion has purpose. Nothing is left to chance.’

AstonMartin.com, @AstonMartin, @AstonMartinF1, Breitling.com, @Breitling

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Jonathan Bell has written for Wallpaper* magazine since 1999, covering everything from architecture and transport design to books, tech and graphic design. He is now the magazine’s Transport and Technology Editor. Jonathan has written and edited 15 books, including Concept Car Design, 21st Century House, and The New Modern House. He is also the host of Wallpaper’s first podcast.