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What Breitling Emergency Watch Did Richard Hammond Test on Top Gear?

Richard Hammond’s Top Gear challenge featured the Breitling Emergency II, a watch with 406 MHz satellite-alert and 121.5 MHz homing signals.
Entry691 Date Time2 min MechanicCarCody Team
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Richard Hammond tested a Breitling Emergency II in a Top Gear challenge filmed in British Columbia, where Jeremy Clarkson and James May tried to reach him. Episode listings place the segment in Series 22, Episode 6, broadcast in the UK on March 1, 2015; that identification relies on secondary listings and fan discussion, not an official BBC episode page.

Which Breitling watch was in the Top Gear challenge?

The watch was the Breitling Emergency II, a specialist watch with a built-in distress beacon. Breitling dates the Emergency II’s introduction to 2013. It added a 406 MHz satellite-alert signal to the 121.5 MHz homing signal used by the earlier Emergency generation. Breitling’s history of the Emergency describes that generational change.

Episode references identify the challenge as Top Gear Series 22, Episode 6. The UK broadcast date is reported as March 1, 2015; a US listing gives March 2. These dates and the episode identification come from secondary sources, so they are less firmly established than the watch’s manufacturer specifications. The segment was not the final episode of Top Gear.

How does the Emergency II beacon work?

The Emergency’s transmitter sends two signals with different roles: a 406 MHz digital signal intended for satellite detection and a 121.5 MHz analog signal used for homing. Breitling says the 406 MHz burst lasts 0.44 seconds and repeats every 50 seconds; the 121.5 MHz signal lasts 0.75 seconds and repeats every 2.25 seconds. These are manufacturer-published operating details, not a guarantee of coverage or rescue. Breitling’s Emergency operation information explains the beacon and its servicing.

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Breitling also describes a dedicated charger-tester used to recharge the transmitter battery periodically and automatically check transmitter operation. That makes the Emergency more than a watch with a one-time, maintenance-free safety feature: transmitter readiness depends on following the manufacturer’s service and charging requirements.

What does the current Breitling Emergency listing specify?

Breitling’s current catalog page is titled “Professional Emergency” and lists reference E76325221B1S1. It gives these specifications for that catalog reference:

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These are specifications for the listed reference, not proof that every Emergency II dial, reference, or regional variant is still in production—or that this is the exact configuration Hammond wore. Check the reference and documentation for the specific watch being considered. Breitling’s Professional Emergency catalog listing is the source for these figures.

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What to know before treating it as safety equipment

The Emergency is a specialized distress beacon, not a substitute for a trip plan, reliable communications, or other appropriate emergency equipment. Anyone considering one should confirm the exact model and transmitter-service requirements with Breitling or an authorized service center, and should not assume that carrying the watch guarantees a response or rescue.

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