Breitling Chronomat: “La Montre de mon Coeur” – The Watch of My Heart

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In 1993, at 21 years of age, David Desbordes received his Breitling Chronomat from his father. After 21 years, this Breitling Chronomat (seen on his wrist) remains a highly sentimental timepiece for him. Desbordes is managing director of Visionnaire Pte Ltd, an events planning and management company that is based in Singapore. Photo: © TANG Portfolio. Breitling Singapore Boutique. June 2014

In 1993, at 21 years of age, David Desbordes received his Breitling Chronomat from his father. After 21 years, this Breitling Chronomat (seen on his wrist) remains a highly sentimental timepiece for him. Desbordes is managing director of Visionnaire Pte Ltd, an events planning and management company that is based in Singapore. Photo: © TANG Portfolio. Breitling Singapore Boutique. June 2014

David Desbordes, managing director of Visionnaire, an events planning and management company based in Singapore, has been exposed to many different watch brands in both his professional capacity and in private life but there can only be one that stands out for this French gentleman.

It was truly apt when Desbordes attended the launch of Breitling’s Chronomat Airborne special series at the brand’s boutique in Palais Renaissance, its first in Singapore and Southeast Asia, sporting his very own Chronomat from the early 1990s.

“It was given to me by my father when I turned 21,” says Desbordes proudly and emotionally. “I have quite a few wristwatches but I only travel with this Breitling.”

This two-tone Breitling Chronomat was acquired in 1993 and given to David Desbordes when he was 21 years of age. This is the watch that has a strong emotional link with Desbordes. Photo: © TANG Portfolio. Breitling Singapore Boutique. June 2014

This two-tone Breitling Chronomat was acquired in 1993 and given to David Desbordes when he was 21 years of age. This is the watch that has a strong emotional link with Desbordes. Photo: © TANG Portfolio. Breitling Singapore Boutique. June 2014

His two-tone Breitling Chronomat features an excellent colour combination and remains relevant even after 21 years of ownership.

“La montre de mon Coeur – This is the watch of my heart,” Desbordes tells us with a smile. “If I die, I die with this watch.”

Now that is probably the most powerful statement we have ever heard with regards to a person’s watch. Ownership has its privileges.

Choisi: Choice of many generations

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Choisi 1929 Tachygraph. Introduced in 2014, it is powered by the ETA 7750 automatic movement and comes in a 44mm case in stainless steel. Water-resistant to 5 atm (50m). Recommended retail price: SGD2,600. Photo: © Choisi

Choisi 1929 Tachygraph. Introduced in 2014, it is powered by the ETA 7750 automatic movement and comes in a 44mm case in stainless steel. Water-resistant to 5 atm (50m). Recommended retail price: SGD2,600. Photo: © Choisi

Founded in 1929 in Bienne, Switzerland, Choisi (pronounced “Swa-Zee”) not only specialised in the production of mechanical timepieces under the “Choisi Suisse” trademark but in the manufacture and assembly of watches and movements for many third-party Swiss brands.

These included the manufacture of chronograph and moon phase complications which were supplied to third-parties and branded under their own labels.

During the Second World War, Montres Choisi even produced military timepieces numbering over 100,000 and these were supplied to both sides – the German Wehrmacht (the military forces of Germany from 1935 to 1946) and the Allied forces.

By the 1990s, Montres Choisi had repositioned itself and was designing and developing Swiss movements, including the modification and adaptation of complicated modules on base movements in addition to the provision of surface finishings.

In 2013, ownership of Choisi changed and the brand was relaunched. Two new collections emerged: the 1929 collection and the Heritage collection.

The 1929 collection is characterised by its cushion-shaped cases as this was popular during that era. Meanwhile, the Heritage collection features a round case. Both collections are inspired by vintage designs.

Choisi Heritage GT. Introduced in 2014, it houses the ETA 6497-1 manual-winding movement and is in a 42mm diameter case in stainless steel. Water-resistant to 5 atm (50m). Recommended retail price: SGD1,300. Photo: © Choisi

Choisi Heritage GT. Introduced in 2014, it houses the ETA 6497-1 manual-winding movement and is in a 42mm diameter case in stainless steel. Water-resistant to 5 atm (50m). Recommended retail price: SGD1,300. Photo: © Choisi

The Swiss word choisi which means “choice” when translated to English, and the new owners have deliberately chosen vintage designs, some of which are sporty, as these are classics. This is a safe bet as classic designs can be the choice of both the newer and older generations.

Prices of Choisi watches range from SGD1,150 to SGD2,600.