A Closer Look at the Breitling Emergency II Titanium
The same people who tell you not to take life too seriously are the ones who have a kitty fund for when things get tough yet will admonish you for saving up some money in case you lose your job telling you not to be pessimistic. That is the thing about life; they say tomorrow is a mystery, but the truth is you do not know what will happen in the next second. One minute you are calling your wife on your way home to tell her to prepare your favorite meal and the next she is coming to identify your body at the morgue because your car was hit by a truck ferrying gas and you are barely recognizable. However, just because you do not know what tomorrow holds does not mean you have to shelter yourself from all fun and adventure for fear of exposing yourself to danger. Live your life to the fullest and if that means going to hike Mt. Kilimanjaro or sail the roughest seas, so be it. You only get one life, and it is up to you to choose to do whatever makes you happy otherwise people will be forced to make up stuff to keep your eulogy long enough to show how you made the most out of your expired life. That said, emergencies are bound to happen but being prepared for them makes us worry less. You can carry your mobile phone, and first aid kit but imagine having a watch that will send out a signal for that time you need help. Well, Breitling Emergency II titanium lives up to its name and here is a closer look at this amazing timepiece.
Why be referred to as “emergency”?
The history of the Breitling emergency watches dates back to 1985 when the first wristwatch to have an in-built emergency transmitter was made, according to Watch time. The earlier version of the Breitling Emergency transmitted on a single analog frequency. The first one made operated on a 121.5MHz international air distress frequency, but that did not limit its ability to enable accurate location of those involved in plane crashes. Matter of fact is pilots saw it as a life-saver and wore it around their wrists while still trusting the onboard aircraft equipment would help in the search and rescue missions. The watch has since its launch been able to save at least 26,000 people although most of the 40,000 buyers are attracted to its design not so much as its ability to save their lives.
Features of the Breitling Emergency II titanium
- Weight – Forget about the slim watches that you hardly notice you are wearing until someone asks you the time. The Breitling Emergency II titanium weighs 140 grams only, thanks to the use of a lightweight titanium case. You should note that the 140 grams are when the watch is without its strap although the PLB Category 2 beacon micro-transmitter also factors in the weight.
- 24-hour functionality – It would be senseless to have an emergency watch that is not functioning when you need it most, but you can rely on the Breitling Emergency II titanium since it works for 24 hours. The timepiece comes with a bespoke battery that releases enough power for the satellite to pick up and to enable the 24-hour functionality. The battery also can be recharged as much as you need to, to ensure that in case of that emergency, it will have enough power to send out a signal. However, since the watch uses two different frequencies that require varied power demands, you not only need a silver oxide batter but a lithium-ion battery as well to cater to the power requirements. The timepiece avails a tester to make sure it is in proper working condition, facilitating a little peace of mind even in your emergency.
- Operates on different frequencies – Emergencies happen on the land, at sea, and anywhere else and unless you re fully equipped, your life will be hanging by a thread which is why Breitling Emergency II titanium operates in two different frequencies. The International Cospas- Sarsat system provides accurate data and dependable distress alert and locating data, and they used the 121.5 MHz until 2009 when they phased it out in favor of the digital 406 MHz frequency. While the 406 MHz frequency is much more effective, the analog frequency is still used on land, air and at sea meaning that for the watch to help anyone stranded in any of these areas, it had to incorporate both frequencies to increase the chances of locating them. The frequencies alternate such the digital one lasts for 0.44 seconds after every 50 seconds while the analog last for 0.75 seconds and is emitted after every 2.25 seconds.
How to activate the signal
Luckily, even if you are not a pilot familiar with many technical words on the aircraft or manual, you still can make use of the watch due to its being very user-friendly. On the lower part of the watch, you will notice two extendable antenna sections, and since when you deploy the antenna, you will automatically activate the transmitter, all you have to do is follow the instructions inscribed on the cap which reads “turn antenna.”
As Deployant explains, you should unscrew the cap, and it will automatically come free when you deploy it to the right length. It seems like a multi-step operation because unscrewing the first cap releases the cap of the other section and it will also deploy the antenna. Like those days when you struggled with adjusting the aerial of your radio to get the right frequency to listen to your favorite station, once the two antennae are deployed you will have to position the watch in an ideal position best for transmission.
What makes it a watch?
At this point, you have to be wondering how this emergency device gets to be a watch; it still has features you find on other timepieces. For instance, it has a multilingual calendar, 1/100th-second chronograph, 12/24hour analog, and digital display, and if you are picky about the kind of dial you want, it is available in three options. You can choose an “intrepid” orange, “Cobra” yellow or “volcano” black. As for the strap, you also get to select between one with a Breitling professional steel bracelet that goes for $17,000 or the other with a rubber Divo pro strap that will cost you $18,600, according to New Atlas.
