Is the Breitling Emergency worth it?

If you fly or sail in remote areas and want a wrist-worn distress beacon, nothing else does the job. As a pure everyday watch, the size and service costs make it hard to justify.

How does the personal locator beacon work?

It transmits on the 121.5 MHz aviation distress frequency, and the second frequency depends on the region the watch was built for. It is a backup beacon, not a replacement for a proper PLB or EPIRB.

Is 51 mm too big to wear daily?

For most wrists under about 7.5 inches, yes. The 21.6 mm height also catches on cuffs, so try one on before buying.

The original Breitling watch box and Breitling papers, per the listing, along with the Breitling warranty.

How often does the beacon battery need service?

Breitling specifies a service interval for the beacon battery, typically every few years, and the work must be done by Breitling. Budget for it in the total cost of ownership.

Pre-owned and gray-market examples sell well below retail, and prices dip when a new generation is announced. Watch the price history before buying.

Where can I buy the Breitling Emergency Watch?

5 stores we checked sell it, including DonChrono, Luxury Time NYC, Professor Wrist, Time Source Jewelers, Diamond Source NYC.

Breitling Emergency Watch

Last price we saw

$12,405.00at Diamond Source NYC, last seen Nov 2

Prices change often: ask the agent below to check today's price at every store.

Prices are checked against each store and labelled with when.

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Our take on the Breitling Emergency Watch

The Breitling Emergency is a 51 mm titanium quartz watch with a built-in dual-frequency personal locator beacon, the feature that separates it from every other chronograph on the market. It also packs a chronograph, digital display, countdown timer, alarm, GMT second time zone and a compass bezel, all driven by Breitling's thermocompensated SuperQuartz caliber B76. At 21.6 mm thick and 51 mm across, it is a large, purpose-built instrument rather than a dress watch. No current price was provided for this listing, so check the live comparison for where it sits against its recent range.

Best forPilots and offshore sailors who want a last-resort distress beacon on the wrist

What reviewers say

Owners treat the Emergency as a serious safety tool and a conversation piece. Pilots and sailors value the beacon, while critics mostly complain about its size and the cost of servicing the beacon battery.

Pros

The PLB gives real peace of mind offshore and in remote areas
Quartz accuracy and the four-year day/date programming mean little fuss
Titanium build feels light for its size and wears better than expected

Cons

Very large and thick on smaller wrists
Beacon battery replacement is expensive and must be done by Breitling
Legibility of the busy dial is not as clean as simpler Breitling models

About the Breitling Emergency Watch

Breitling Emergency E7632522/BC02/156S/E20DSA.4Breitling Men’s EMERGENCY, 51mm, Titanium Watch with a built-in dual-frequency Personal Locator Beacon (PLB). Volcano Black dial with luminescent applied hands and Arabic numerals hour markers. Non-screw-locked crown with two gaskets. Cambered sapphire crystal with glare-proof treatment on both sides. The watch is multifunctional and is equipped with a Chronograph, Digital Display, Personal Locator Beacon, End of Life Indicator, Countdown Timer, Alarm, GMT Second Time Zone, Day, Date, Hour, and Minute. Day and date programmed for 4 years, 2-3 years of power reserve. The bidirectional ratcheted rotating Bezel Compass Wind Rose of Titanium. The Thermocompensated the Super Quartz electronic Breilting 76 movement. The black Diver Pro III rubber strap with the Deployant buckle of Titanium. Water-resistant to 50 meters/165 feet.SPECIFICATIONS:

Reference Number

E7632522/BC02/156S/E20DSA.4

Model

EMERGENCY

Case Size

51mm

Dial

Volcano Black dial

Hands

Luminous Filled hands

Case Material

Titanium