FeatureCelebrating The 64th Birthday Of John Travolta, The Global Icon Of Swiss Watchmaker Breitling
Known as one of the best dressed actors from Hollywood, Travolta is a perfect fit for the authentic partner of aviation. Here’s a tribute to Breitling’s most famous icon on his birthday, which is on February 18
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My job takes me to various parts of the globe and helps me in meeting many interesting people, which includes some the greatest celebrities on this planet. And some impress you enough to make you want to meet them again. John Travolta is one such person. I met him in August 2010 courtesy Breitling, in Mumbai, when he flew some members of his family all the way to India in his own Boeing 707.
Flying High – Both On And Off Screen
I am fascinated by Travolta as much for his acting and dancing abilities as for his enormous skills as a trained pilot. Both these passions have made him the enigma that he is today. He was barely 24 when he got an Oscar nod for his role in Saturday Night Fever. After many ups and downs, he staged a huge comeback with Quentin Tarantino’s Pulp Fiction. His fairy-tale career in movies continued with subsequent releases such as Face Off, Get Shorty, A Civil Action, Primary Colours, The General’s Daughters, Ladder 49, Broken Arrow and many more.
While he was excelling at the movies, he was also busy pursuing another passion – flying. He now holds ten different licenses as a commercial pilot. And this is precisely the reason Breitling, the aviation experts, signed him on as their ambassador way back in 2001. The relationship is still going strong, proving the point yet again that the best brand ambassadors are those who truly believe in the brands they endorse and have been their users even before signing on the dotted lines.
On being asked who he wanted to be identified with the most – actor, singer or pilot, Travolta averred that his skills complemented each other, and different facets of his personality help shape each of them.
Travolta got his first pilot’s licence at the age of 19. He spent most of his childhood flying as his family was involved in show business and was constantly on the move to catch Broadway shows across the country. I remember having asked him to choose his favourite among the five aircraft he owned. Admitting it was a difficult question to answer, he told me, “It depends on my mood. Sometimes it’s fun to be on a huge jet, while some other time, I love being on a two-seater Microlight. The most important thing is to be up in the skies.”
Life On A Runway
So much for his love for planes, Travolta lives on a runway at Ocala, Florida. He gets a high after waking up and seeing the planes every day. When some of them are not parked, he even misses them.
Talking about his love for musicals, he was a part of the 2007 release Hairspray, almost 32 years after Grease. I remember Travolta telling me the golden time for musicals in Hollywood was the 1950s. Shirley MacLaine, Barbra Streisand and he were the only actors who could be part of such movies in the 2000s.
On movies made on India or by Indians, he recalled Danny Boyle’s Slumdog Millionaire and Mira Nair’s Bride & Prejudice. He also mentioned to me that it’s Hollywood that needed Bollywood, for India had emerged as a key market for the American films.
He has been a proud brand ambassador of Breitling for close to two decades now, a role he thoroughly enjoys. Often spotted donning the stylish Breitling Navitimer watches – for many of which he has actively contributed in the concept and design stages – Travolta has been the perfect role model for millions of watch lovers who also have a keen interest in flying. Travolta admitted to me that he had been wearing Breitling since way before the brand signed him on as an ambassador.
As a pilot, he knows how demanding the profession of flying is and a good watch can be a good backup to the modern cockpits equipped with the latest gadgets. At least the pilot can fall back on these beautiful mechanical timepieces by Breitling to ascertain the speed, direction, and fuel position of the plane.
Over the years, Travolta has been a part of several memorable campaigns for Breitling, mainly for two of its lines – Chronomat 44 and Navitimer, both ideal flying companions for pilots.
Chronomat 44 – The Self-winding Watch For Sports Lovers
This is the ultimate sporting watch dedicated to super performance, testing personal limits. The robust case measuring 44mm in diameter hosts Breitling’s famous self-winding mechanical manufacture Calibre 01 with water resistance to a depth of 500m, making it a favourable choice for divers as well. Withstanding the top position as the ultimate chronograph for pilots, the Chronomat 44 comes in steel, two-tone, steel and gold and 18k rose or white gold combinations that can be paired with exciting straps like diver pro, military, ocean racer and more.
Calibre 01 is an in-house movement from Breitling, offering a power reserve of 70 hours plus, while it runs at a frequency of 28,800 vibrations per hour.
Chronomat 44 GMT – For The Ones Who Wanderlust
Also available as a user-friendly GMT version, this is a perfect dual-time travel companion watch for globetrotters. Fitted with the powerful Breitling Calibre B04, the second time zone can be set by a simple forward or backward movement of the crown without losing any precision in the minutes display. A 24-hour third time zone can also be read on the rotating bezel.
The power reserve, chronograph reading, number of jewels (47) etc remain the same as the basic Chronomat 44.
Navitimer 01 – Travolta’s Choice
How can we talk about Breitling and Travolta and not talk about the functional and highly efficient Navitimer watches? A bestseller among pilots since 1952, the Navitimer 01 is fitted with the robust and reliable Breitling Calibre 01. The model is known worldwide for its steel case and a black dial with red seconds hand, silver chronograph counters and accentuated applied hour-markers. Another highly distinctive feature of the Navitimer watches is the presence of the circular slide-rule on its bidirectional ratcheted rotating bezel, which handles calculations relating to airborne navigation.
Being the Calibre 01 self-winding movement, the watch offers 70 hours power reserve and runs at the frequency of 28,800 vibrations per hour.
Navitimer 01 (46mm) – A Fresh Take On The Classic
The Navitimer 01 is also available in an extra-large 46mm diameter case size that enhances the good looks of a classic Navitimer on the wrist. The Navitimer 01 (46mm) is also available in a beautiful blue dial, offering a choice of a steel bracelet or a genuine crocodile leather strap. The transparent case back allows the wearer to admire the COSC-certified Breitling Calibre 01 movement inside. This series includes a 200-piece limited edition in red gold with a black dial.
A Breitling Chronomat 44 or a Navitimer, both having strong links with Travolta, the brand’s famous icon, is a universal choice of all who love to fly. They are equally sought after by the pilot community and by travellers looking for an efficient dual time chronograph watch, as a companion on their constant travels.
