Many watch brands make military-inspired timepieces, but only a handful have a genuine and authentic connection with the armed forces. Breitling’s stretches back to the 1930s with the legendary Breitling Huit Aviation Department, which provided the Royal Air Force with onboard flight chronographs. In the decades following, the watchmaker’s timepieces have been a favourite of professional aviators around the world thanks to their precision and reliability, including the Red Arrows who wear Breitling chronographs as they navigate their breathtaking aerobatic displays.

In celebration of this ongoing relationship, Breitling has launched a special watch, the Avenger Royal Air Force Red Arrows Limited Edition, of which just 220 pieces are available. It is true collector’s piece, as the brand is the only luxury watch company granted permission to feature the Red Arrows emblems on its timepieces, including the famous ‘Diamond Nine’ motif, here proudly displayed in the 9 o’clock position on the dial. The eye-catching watch also features signature red accents across the indexes and the GMT hand.

Part of the newly relaunched Avenger range, it comes with all the technical features you’d expect of a high-end pilot’s watch. Indexes coated with Super-Luminova ensure that the watch is easily readable in all conditions, while the COSC-certified Breitling Caliber 32 movement offers a power reserve of 42 hours. And for serious pilots planning to take to the skies wearing the watch, it can be operated while wearing gloves thanks to its large bezel and special grip pattern on the crown.

Breitling Avenger Automatic GMT 45 Red Arrows Limited Edition, £3,950, breitling.com