As befits Breitling’s strong associations with aviation, the unique Breitling Emergency Watch was developed for use by pilots. It contains an extendable antenna that can be activated in an emergency to send a distress signal on the 121.5 MHz aircraft emergency frequency.

This unique feature has already been used by two British helicopter pilots who crashed in the Antarctic in 2003. But more recently, the emergency feature was activated by a stranded hunter in the wilds of Alaska.

Mark Spencer left his hunting party on the Tyone River in the remote Alaska Range to seek help when the waters became too shallow for their vessel. However, after striking a shoal that sunk his boat, Spencer spent more than 48 hours along in the Alaskan backcountry.

“Breitling is the number one piece of equipment I always bring with me,” he said. “Even if I lose everything, I will always have my watch. That gives me and my family peace of mind.”

Spencer activated his watch’s Emergency Locator Transmitter (ELT) after a dangerous trek up the frigid Susitna River left him hypothermic and near death in the isolated backcountry. A rescue crew was able to pinpoint his location and lift him to safety by helicopter after they picked up the distress signal. Spencer also wore a personal locator beacon, but its signal indicated that he was four miles from his actual location, whereas the signal from his watch pinpointed him correctly.

“It brings Breitling great pleasure to hear about this kind of customer satisfaction”, said Thierry Prissert, President of Breitling USA. “We’re hoping from now on he only has to use his watch to tell time.”