The Chronomat holds a significant place in Breitling’s history. When the Breitling Chronomat was launched in 1984, it marked a welcome return to mechanical Swiss watches, which had all but disappeared when quartz watches dominated the marketplace in the 1970s. Breitling had used the name Chronomat for some of its 1940s watches, and, in those early days, the word was a portmanteau of “chronograph for mathematics”. The 1984 Chronomat expressed something different: “chronograph” and “automatic”, a name that called attention to the self-winding mechanical movement.
Nearly 40 years later, the redesigned Chronomat is set to appeal to today’s generation of men and women of purpose, action, and style. The new Breitling Chronomat is truly an all-purpose sports watch, at home both on the red carpet and at the beach. Its features recall the classic namesake from the 1980s and make it instantly recognizable. The Chronomat is in fact one of the few watches from Breitling that we dared to love in the early 90s. An icon in its own way that unfortunately became flashier and flashier with its highly polished pilot bracelet and case. But the Breitling Chronomats with their Rouleaux bracelets were the ones we preferred with a more understated look and a vintage aura on them.
Vintage Breitling Catalog from 1987 featuring the Chronomat Collection
The eye-catching Rouleaux bracelet with a butterfly clasp perfectly expresses Breitling’s modern-retro style, as does the signature rotating bezel with rider tabs. The new Chronomat celebrates a significant time in Breitling’s history while projecting a clear vision for the future. Inspired by the Frecce Tricolori watch, which had been developed and launched in 1983 in collaboration with the famed Italian aerial squadron of the same name, the Chronomat celebrated Breitling’s centenary in style and marked the return of the mechanical chronograph.
Breitling Chronomat Frecce Tricolori from 1983
Features of the New Chronomat
The Chronomat Collection introduces a new generation to the watch that underscored Breitling’s bold decision to return to its rightful place as a producer of great mechanical chronographs. Every Chronomat has features that make it instantly recognizable:
— The signature rotating bezel is highlighted by rider tabs, which not only protect the crystal but make the manipulation of the bezel easier even when using gloves.
— The rider tabs at 3 o’clock and 9 o’clock, true to the original, are interchangeable, so the wearer can use them either for a “count up” or “count down” function. That’s the reason why these riders are fitted with screws so that they can be moved around the bezel.
— A 42 mm case with a highly recognizable stainless-steel integrated Rouleaux bracelet with a butterfly clasp and a sapphire display case back.
— Each chronograph in the new collection is powered by the Breitling Manufacture Caliber 01, an in-house mechanical movement that delivers an impressive power reserve of about 70 hours. It is worth noting that, when Breitling launched its in-house Manufacture Caliber 01 more than ten years ago, it was introduced in the Chronomat 01. Like all Breitling watches, the Chronomats are COSC-certified chronometers.
— The hands of every Chronomat B01 42 are coated with superluminova.
— All of the models except for the Chronomat Frecce Tricolori Limited Edition have a red chronograph second hand, which also contributes to easy readability.
— All of the models are water-resistant to 200 meters.
Breitling Rouleaux New Bracelet
Breitling Chronomat B01 42
The basic version of the Chronomat B01 42 features a 42 mm all stainless steel case with a choice of silver, copper, or blue dial with black contrasting chronograph counters. It is also available with a black dial with silver contrasting chronograph counters. Each model is presented on a stainless-steel Rouleaux bracelet with a butterfly clasp.
Sticker Price $8,750 USD for any stainless steel model, regardless of the dial. For more info on Breitling click here.
Breitling Chronomat B01 42 Bentley
The Chronomat Bentley celebrates Breitling’s partnership with the British luxury car brand. It has a 42 mm stainless steel case with a green dial and black contrasting chronograph counters. The watch is presented on a stainless steel Rouleaux bracelet with a butterfly clasp and features a “BENTLEY” engraving around the transparent sapphire display case back.
Sticker Price $8,250 USD. For more info on Breitling click here.
Breitling Chronomat Frecce Tricolori Limited Edition
It was Breitling’s 1983 Frecce Tricolori watch that inspired the Chronomats introduced a year later to celebrate the brand’s centenary. The new Chronomat Frecce Tricolori Limited Edition has a blue dial featuring tone-on-tone subdials and the Frecce Tricolori logo on the dial, positioned where the Breitling logo is normally placed. This stunning tribute to the great aerial squadron is limited to 250 pieces, and its case back is engraved with the words “ONE OF 250.” Like the rest of the collection, it is presented on a stainless-steel Rouleaux bracelet with a butterfly clasp.
Sticker Price $8,250 USD. For more info on Breitling click here.
Breitling Chronomat B01 42 Two-Tone
Chronomat enthusiasts looking for an extra touch of luxury will be drawn to the Chronomat B01 42 fitted with a 42 mm stainless steel case with 18K red gold crown and pushers and a bezel with 18K red gold rider tabs, numerals, and indexes. This stunning model comes with a silver dial with silver tone-on-tone subdials and fitted with a regular stainless steel Rouleaux bracelet; however, it is also available with an elegant blue dial with tone-on-tone chronograph counters or with an anthracite dial with black contrasting chronograph counters and these two latter models are fitted with a stainless steel and 18K red gold Rouleaux bracelet —a small difference in terms of the bracelet that unfortunately racks up the price.
Sticker Price $9,350 USD for Silver Dial and $12,100 USD for Blue or Anthracite Dial with the two-tone bracelet. For more info on Breitling click here.
Breitling Chronomat B01 42 Red Gold
Finally, for someone who wants to take sporty luxury to a whole new level, there is also a Chronomat B01 42 with a striking 42 mm 18K red gold case presented on a black Diver Pro II rubber strap with an 18K red gold folding clasp. The watch has an anthracite dial with black contrasting chronograph counters.
Sticker Price $20,200 USD. For more info on Breitling click here.
